The basic commitment, inscribed in the statutes of ACAME, is the first stage: the declaration of intention by its member states. The report of this mission and its conclusions were presented at the general assembly in October 1998 for approbation and follow-up.

The agreement between the health authorities of the concerned countries is an indispensable stage before proceeding with the implementation of the system.

A framework contract between the partners involved in the system, the central supply agencies, the pharmaceutical authorities and the directors of central medical stores should provide for procedures and regulations. Some key elements for these regulations are:

• The subject of the tender: product type and category, selection criteria for the articles to be included.

• The type of, general and specific conditions for the tender (incoterms, partial deliveries, etc), the different stages of the tender, the type of tender.

• The system of pre-qualification of suppliers, purchase calendar.

• Quality control, funding of the cost of analysis, laboratory identification.

• Modalities for analysis and evaluation of the bids, for awarding tenders and for payment

• Documentation system for the procedures.

• Attributions of the secretariat, selection procedures for its personnel, and identification of its home base.

• Funding of the bulk purchasing process (secretariat, meetings) for the initial period and for the regular functioning of the system.

• Components of the contract specifications.

These elements are indicative and not exhaustive and they have to be identified by the representatives of the countries concerned.