Criteria of Awarded Lots

When analysing the main criteria in MEAT tenders, a combination of factors beyond price are used to evaluate tenders.

When analysing the data for the average weighting of the criteria used in awarded lots (Fig. 9), terms and conditions have now become the most recurrent criteria used, right after price.

Due to the supply and logistics issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic plus some major stock-outs, also for Biosimilars, the importance of logistics, delivery, and supply in healthcare tendering has significantly increased5. Avoiding shortages of essential medicines and maintaining availability of supply to ensure treatment of critical populations continues to be paramount to patients’ health and to keep hospitals working smoothly.

Some other criteria, however, have seen a decline in importance. Packaging, quality, product technical features, and safety have all had a slight decrease in relevance as awarding criteria. Not surprisingly, social and environmental sustainability has shown a relative growth in importance since 2021.