[Security of supply: Getting to know more about the organization of suppliers].

OBJECTIVES The worsening pharmaceutical products shortage required the central purchasing structure of AP-HP to include a new criterion on supply safety in the tenders' procedures. Each provider answering to the tender needs to complete a dedicated form. The aim is to review the collected information and assess its relevance. METHODS This study is based on a retrospective analysis conducted on the last 2 tenders' procedures forms (one started in September 2019 and the other in February 2020). RESULTS These 2 tenders' procedures were composed of 155 lots. The form response rate was 81,4%. The average rating on 20 was 10,9±3,8. The rates could be very variable depending on the lots. Regarding the 2020s tenders procedures, 57.8% of specialties were classified as drugs of major therapeutic interest. A shortage management plan exists for 24.0% of them. Providers indicated several sources of raw materials (36,1%) and several factories (35,5%). The average advanced stock was 4.1±3.8 months in France and 2.3±2.6 months in Europe. The information system implemented by suppliers scored an average of 15 out of 20. CONCLUSIONS This study allowed us to know better the suppliers' organisation. The concerning points are the low stocks and the discrepancies in the suppliers' drugs of major therapeutic interest classification of a same product and the existence of a shortage management plan. This form will be maintained with more specific questions. An assessment will be done to determine the relevance of this form to prevent disruptions.