The European project PROCURE has successfully implemented the Delphi methodology to identify key elements for successful public procurement practices in the healthcare sector. This initiative aimed to define essential aspects that any Healthcare Public Procurement Process (HCPP) should follow to achieve optimal results. Experts in HCPP from 10 countries participated in multiple consultation rounds to reach a broad consensus on these critical elements.

The Delphi Methodology

To ensure an unbiased and comprehensive panel, a diverse group of healthcare procurement experts was recruited, including procurers, suppliers, health regulators, policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. A total of 29 experts from 10 different countries contributed to the process.

An initial version of the Delphi questionnaire was developed based on extensive bibliographic research and external expert reviews. The methodology consisted of two online rounds of consultation via a web-based questionnaire, followed by a final face-to-face structured meeting in Zaragoza on December 12-13, 2024. This iterative approach enabled experts to refine their insights and achieve a consensus on the core elements of a successful healthcare procurement process.

Key Results

The Delphi process resulted in a comprehensive list of criteria and categories, outlining the essential elements for successful public procurement in healthcare. This list serves as a benchmark to evaluate the effectiveness of any healthcare procurement process, covering aspects from legal frameworks to outcome evaluations.

Main Conclusions

Key insights from the Delphi process will help shape future healthcare procurement practices:

1. Specific Legal Framework – A robust and well-defined legal structure is essential to regulate the entire procurement lifecycle effectively.
2. Unified Understanding of Sustainability – Ensuring all stakeholders share a common interpretation of sustainability within the procurement process.
3. Capacity Building and Training – Continuous training for procurement officers and stakeholders is crucial to manage complex healthcare procurement processes.
4. Standardized Metrics and Performance Indicators – Developing clear metrics for monitoring procurement execution to ensure transparency and efficiency.
5. Preparedness for Emergency Situations – Creating a flexible legislative framework to respond promptly to crises while maintaining legal compliance.
6. Evaluation Based on Patient and Healthcare Professional Outcomes – Emphasizing value-based procurement that prioritizes patient outcomes alongside economic considerations.
7. Transparency, Equal Treatment, and Fair Competition – Ensuring fairness throughout the procurement process to build trust among stakeholders and enhance efficiency.

Impact and Next Steps

The Delphi methodology applied in the PROCURE project provides critical insights into best practices for healthcare procurement. The final list of key elements will be published on the project’s website, serving as a reference for assessing procurement processes. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes, promote fairness, and enhance efficiency in healthcare procurement across Europe.

 

About PROCURE Project

Procure’s goal is to make current healthcare procurement practices more resilient and efficient across the European Union, and to ensure that public health and care procurement systems can respond to future emergency crises & pandemics.

By identifying how procurement strategies, plans, policies and processes were incorporated into public procurement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be able to detail the lessons learned for healthcare procurement in response to emergency crises and make considered recommendations to strengthen the capabilities of healthcare procurers.