How EPSS buys
EPSS procures for public hospitals and health centres and distributes through its branches. Purchases are made through tenders published on EPSS's website and in the press, following Ethiopia's public procurement rules.
- 1
Watch the tenders
Follow EPSS's tender notices and obtain the bidding documents for the lots that match your products.
- 2
Check eligibility
Bidding documents set the requirements, which usually include EFDA registration of the product, company documents and a bid security.
- 3
Bid
Submit the technical and financial offer as the document asks, before the deadline; foreign manufacturers often bid through, or with, their local agent.
- 4
Deliver
Winning bidders sign a contract and deliver to EPSS against its schedule and quality checks.
Registration comes first
Without EFDA registration a product usually can't compete in a public tender, so start registration early: it can take longer than a tender cycle.
Public and private: two channels
Besides EPSS, 1,505 private companies and traders import medicines and medical devices for pharmacies, private hospitals and clinics. Many suppliers sell to both: tenders for volume, private importers for steady demand.
Frequently asked questions
What is EPSS?+
The Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service, the public agency that procures and distributes medicines and medical supplies for public health facilities.
Where are EPSS tenders published?+
On EPSS's website and in the press, with bidding documents that set each tender's requirements.
Do I need EFDA registration to bid?+
Usually yes: bidding documents normally require the product to be registered with EFDA. Check each tender's requirements.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Always check EFDA's current guideline before you submit.