Blog

With most organisations working from home for over a year now, many of us at IDA will say that we have managed to keep our organisation running quite smoothly. But a big aspect of working life are our colleagues and the office culture. So how are we staying connected to our colleagues and holding on to the IDA team spirit?

On World Health Day, we celebrate the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on April 7 in 1948. This year’s campaign is ‘building a fairer, healthier world’, emphasizing the importance of equality in access to healthcare.

Access to good quality healthcare is a challenge for many people in Sudan - a country with a population of almost 43 million people. In the last quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, IDA assembled over 600 Rapid Response Kits (RRKs) for one of our main customers, to specifically support primary healthcare needs in eight different remote locations in Sudan.

One year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, much of the global focus is currently going to vaccination rollouts, but treatment options are still limited. However, dexamethasone, an essential medicine which has been around for decades (listed by WHO since 1977) – is one of the few approved treatments for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Within the context of upcoming International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8, we approached a few of our female agents and distributors with some questions regarding gender equality.

This month, IDA supplied 500 oxygen concentrators to Dubai and Ghana for one our largest customers to be distributed to various end destinations in Africa and Asia.

New partnership broadens access to oncology treatments across Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific

IDA Foundation has published its annual Product Indicator. This booklet provides an overview of the products we supply. The sections on diagnostics and medical supplies are also available in French in addition to English. All medicines and supplies in the Product Indicator are grouped according to the WHO classification of Essential Medicines as listed in the Essential Medicines List (EML).

In 2020, we were all challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the crisis also provided an opportunity to reflect on what's important, whether we are in a crisis or not. More than ever, it has become clear that solid health systems are indispensable when fighting both pandemics and endemics. If we want to overcome any global health crises, we all need to work together.

World AIDS Day, held on December 1 since 1988, is an international day dedicated to creating awareness of the HIV/AIDS burden worldwide. Thus far, of the approximately 38 million people with HIV worldwide, around 26 million are on retroviral therapy, which is triple the number in 2010 (UN Report, 2020). Furthermore, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 56% since 2005 (UNAIDS, 2019). Despite these achievements, significant challenges remain, with increasing rates of infections in key communities.

Today marks the beginning of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. This week aims to create awareness around the accelerated threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and stop responding to medicines, increasing the risk of diseases and severe illnesses.

Since the early start of the pandemic we have been supplying PPE and other urgent supplies to countries worldwide, and we have seen the effects of the unforeseen costs that come with it. Budgets need to be reassessed and customers must find a balance between products required and increased transport costs.

Today, October 6, we celebrate Diversity Day at IDA Foundation. For this occasion we asked a few team members, among which our Director HR, to tell us what diversity means to them and how IDA is addressing this.

IDA Foundation, on behalf of the Stop TB Partnership/The Global Drug Facility (GDF), is today launching an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the supply of ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS MEDICINES AND RELATED PRODUCTS for the treatment of DRUG-RESISTANT FORMS of tuberculosis to eligible manufacturers.

As part of IDA Foundation’s sustainability journey, our headquarters in Amsterdam were renovated in 2018 according to the highest green standards. As the area around our office is currently undergoing many changes, requiring our parking lot to be moved, IDA is taking the opportunity to also turn our office terrain into a climate-adaptive green zone that will benefit the local environment.

On Monday July 6, Johnson & Johnson announced a price reduction of the anti-tuberculosis medicine bedaquiline, for low- and middle-income countries. Thanks to the support of USAID and the Global Fund, this price reduction could be achieved. The price dropped from $400 to $340 for a six-month treatment regimen.

After months of working from home due to the major impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can say our staff does not take this as an excuse to stop exercising. The past few weeks our employees were challenged to share their ways of staying fit during this global crisis, with the very first IDA Fit Challenge. We asked colleagues to share how they are staying fit during lockdown.

The global supply chain is heavily impacted by the pandemic spread of the corona virus. Transport options are scarce due to export restrictions and due to countries being in lockdown to prevent the corona virus from further spreading. These regulations pose challenges for us as a supplier of medical goods.

As the Corona virus pandemic spreads around the globe, and all health care systems and governments seem to be engulfed with battling COVID-19, we realise it is more important than ever that we don’t lose sight of other existing health issues.

What are the effects of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the global supply chain and how is IDA working to mitigate the subsequent impacts on deliveries?

IDA’s has published its first Communication on Engagement (CoE) as a participant in the UN Global Compact.

While coronavirus (COVID-19) dominates the news, we need to remember that another respiratory disease kills 1.5 million people per year: tuberculosis (TB). This is an opportunity to unite forces in the fight against TB and coronavirus.

With corona virus (COVID-19) spreading globally, IDA Foundation is closely monitoring the developments to ensure we are able to respond to any changes. This past week, we were glad to support the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) by supplying medical goods to be used in the corona virus response in China.

Congratulations go out to IDA Foundation’s Ethics and Compliance advisor Geert Vermeulen, who recently received the National Compliance Award 2019.

As procurement agent for Stop TB /GDF, we are glad to share this news update as announced by the Stop TB partnership during the 50th Union Conference for Lung Health in Hyderabad, India.

With a focus on vector control, IDA Foundation recently signed a Framework Agreement with the Global Fund under the Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM).

This week (20-27 September) is Global Climate Strike week; also an opportunity for IDA Foundation to step up to support young climate strikers all over the world. Following earlier climate strikes these past years, this week has broken records with millions of people on the streets to take action for our climate. Today, our employees joined the climate strike by ‘striking’ outside our Amsterdam office.

Each year we recognise World TB Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic impact of TB and urge acceleration of efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

From the IDA team, we wish all of our customers a happy and healthy new year!

On behalf of Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF), IDA Foundation invites all eligible suppliers to submit bids for products for the treatment of tuberculosis.

World AIDS Day, held on 1 December every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to creating awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

IDA is the 1st USAID pre-qualified supplier to synchronise product master data

Every year, it is estimated that 250.000 new cases of cancer affect children.

IDA and GDF have announced a futher extension of the date for Notification of Awards to Bidders

More than 3000 health professionals will gather in The Hague, 24 Oct- 27 Oct 2018.

On behalf of the Global Drug Facility, IDA invites all eligible suppliers to submit a bid for 1st and 2nd line medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis.

From July 23-27, Amsterdam will welcome more than 15.000 health professionals at the 22nd International AIDS Society Conference.

On 16 June, IDA employees joined thousands of others to walk during the 'Night of the Refugee' in Amsterdam.

In January 2018, Dutch media reported that the training programme of global health doctors in the Nederlands is at risk of coming to an end because of lack of funding by the Dutch government.

We are pleased to offer a selection of IDA products available for a limited time, ready for immediate delivery.

On March 26th, 2018, IDA Foundation’s application for membership in the UN Global Compact was successfully accepted. Participation demonstrates our commitment to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

We are proud to share positive results from our partner, the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project this week.

IDA Foundation attended the Portage Inaugural Meeting in Centro Sharjah, UAE. The meeting aims to discuss ways to simplify treatment and access for Children with Cancer in low and middle income countries.

On behalf of Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF), IDA Foundation (IDA), the GDF-contracted procurement agent, invites all eligible suppliers to submit bids (ITB) for 1st and 2nd line TB.

Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day, a day to show support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

Counterfeit products may be responsible for deaths from malaria and pneumonia.

The November 7 conference explored challenges around access to medicines in Haiti.

As we near the end of September, we look back at Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

On Tuesday September 12th, IDA Foundation attended the official announcement of the Union World Conference on Lung Health in the Hague.

Meet Kesney Auguste of Haiti Medicine, IDA's local partner in Haiti.