No change in vaccine procurement process during interim govt: Sayedur Rahman

Highlights

• No change in vaccine procurement system during interim govt
• No EPI vaccines procured through open tender method
• Use of emergency procurement (DTM) approved until June 2025
• Claims of halting Unicef procurement termed “incorrect”
• Science.org report links procurement shift to measles outbreak killing 250+ children
• Legal complaint filed with ACC over procurement issues

Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, former special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has said no changes were made to Bangladesh’s vaccine procurement process during the tenure of the interim government, rejecting claims of a policy shift linked to the recent measles outbreak.

Responding to a report published by Science.org today (1 May), Sayedur told The Business Standard that his comments had been presented in a “fragmented” manner, which could create confusion.

“It must be clarified that no change was made to the vaccine procurement system during the interim government, nor were any vaccines under the EPI programme procured through a revised method,” he said.

He explained that vaccines under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), particularly those fully financed by the government such as measles vaccines, are procured following the Public Procurement Act 2006. “Under the law, procurement is carried out through direct procurement method [DTM] or open tender method [OTM].”

The former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University said in December 2024, the health ministry sought approval for vaccine purchases, after which the advisory council committee on economic affairs allowed procurement through DTM until June 2025 under a special provision citing urgent public interest.

He noted that while discussions were held internally about shifting toward more competitive and transparent methods such as OTM or long-term agreements in the future, no such process was initiated during the interim government’s tenure.

“EPI is a regular national programme. Relying on emergency provisions every year is not appropriate in the long run,” he said, adding that the intention was to ensure transparency and reduce dependency over time.

Sayedur also dismissed claims that procurement through Unicef had been halted, calling such assertions “incorrect.”

According to him, vaccines continued to be procured under existing arrangements, including through Unicef, using funds repurposed from loans provided by the Asian Development Bank.

He also highlighted that the interim government increased vaccine allocation by nearly Tk1,000 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year compared to the previous year, demonstrating its commitment to immunisation.

The clarification comes after a report by Science.org claimed that a policy shift by the interim government in vaccine procurement contributed to a measles outbreak that has killed over 250 children across Bangladesh.

According to the report, the disruption began in September 2025 when the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus moved away from the long-standing practice of procuring vaccines through Unicef.

For decades, the UN agency had supplied vaccines with support from Gavi (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), the Vaccine Alliance.

The report said the government introduced an open tender system, allowing private suppliers to bid for contracts – a move that drew strong opposition from Unicef. Its Bangladesh representative, Rana Flowers, reportedly warned of potential risks associated with the change.

It also noted that Sayedur Rahman had defended the move, saying the earlier system relied on emergency provisions and that the interim government aimed to establish a more “rule-based” and transparent procurement process.

The issue has also triggered legal scrutiny. On 12 April, Supreme Court lawyer Biplob Kumar Das filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging irregularities and failures in vaccine procurement during the interim government’s tenure.