NHSO’s board on Friday approved the proposal to establish the Network of Medical Service Providers, which is to be led by the Rajavithi Hospital, to handle the procurement in the upcoming fiscal year.

The new fiscal year will start on October 1.

The network will carry out the procurement based on the guideline set by a committee that comprises representatives from a variety of agencies.

NHSO has for more than a decade procured medical supplies that are best bought in large bulk for a lower price, such as antidotes, vaccines and artificial knees for the universal healthcare scheme. However, the Office of the Auditor General recently pointed out that the NHSO has no legal power to directly procure.

That caution prompted relevant authorities to quickly explore solutions.