Kuwait develops multi-criteria tool for smarter drug procurement

• Dr. Hisham Kalander stressed that procurement decisions should not rely solely on price. The MCDA tool, he explained, balances quality, safety, reliability of supply, and added value alongside cost.

The Ministry of Health has launched a workshop titled “Developing a Multi-Criteria Data Analysis (MCDA) Tool for Post-Patent Drug Procurement,” reported Al Rai newspaper. The event brought together representatives from the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sector, the drug control sector, medical department councils, as well as local and international experts and academics, reported Al Rai newspaper.

The ministry explained that the workshop is part of the Health Technology Assessment Project, which seeks to create institutional tools that strengthen decision-making on scientific grounds. It noted that the initiative aims to design and adopt a national tool to guide drug procurement based on objective and consistent standards. The tool will later be integrated into the ministry’s official procedures, with results shared across academic and medical circles.

The Ministry of Health announced that the workshop focused on selecting criteria most relevant to Kuwait’s healthcare system and setting evaluation levels for each category to ensure objectivity and practical application. These criteria were ranked and weighted using the SMART swing methodology through a live vote involving representatives from various participating sectors.

The ministry explained that the next phase will include a field test of the tool by procurement teams, alongside current procedures, to prepare a report on ease of use, data availability, and feedback. A second workshop will then be held to review results and approve any necessary adjustments to the weights or thresholds, paving the way for adoption of the final version into official procurement regulations and procedures, whether through tender documents or regulatory instructions.

According to the ministry, these efforts are expected to result in an accessible digital tool capable of generating automatic scores and comparative graphs, supporting decisions with greater transparency. A peer-reviewed scientific manuscript will also be published to document the methodology and application, reinforcing governance and institutional learning within the pharmaceutical sector.

Dr. Hisham Kalander, Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services and Director of the Health Technology Assessment Project, stressed that procurement decisions should not rely solely on price. The MCDA tool, he explained, balances quality, safety, reliability of supply, and added value alongside cost.

The Multi-Criteria Data Analysis (MCDA) tool provides a structured framework proven internationally in pharmaceutical reimbursement, drug listing, and healthcare technology procurement, while promoting transparency, legitimacy, and efficiency in decision-making.

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