According to Kaarel Parts, Healthcare Supply Manager at the Estonian Stockpiling Agency, the stockpile is intended for people with chronic illnesses who need certain medical devices on a daily basis.
‘The stockpile includes critically important equipment such as devices for monitoring blood sugar, ostomy care products, urination aids, supplies for laryngectomy and tracheostomy patients, and supplies for administering various medications.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that disruptions in the production and supply chain of medicinal products and medical devices or the unexpected increase in their demand may cause issues with their availability. Difficulties in supply may also arise in the event of a security threat where the cross-border movement of goods is impeded.
In the field of health care, the Estonian Stockpiling Agency has established a stockpile of personal protective equipment and a stockpile of the most commonly used prescription and non-prescription medicines sold in general pharmacies. The latest addition is a stockpile of medical devices and supplies. As part of ensuring food security, the Estonian state also has a strategic stockpile of veterinary medicines. With all these types of stockpiles, we have significantly mitigated the risks of potential supply disruptions in the medical sector and increased user confidence,’ said Parts.
The Estonian Stockpiling Agency started forming the stockpile in autumn 2024, when the first additional quantities of medical devices arrived at the warehouses. The list of products included in the stockpile is based on an analysis by the Health Insurance Fund and the Ministry of Social Affairs of the most commonly used and critically important medical devices.
The stockpile of medical devices has been established through cooperation between the state and private companies. The Estonian Stockpiling Agency has signed delegated stockpiling agreements with importers and wholesalers, by which the companies undertook to create, store, and continuously update additional stocks of medical devices. The stockpiling agency reimburses the contracting parties for the costs associated with maintaining additional stocks.
The companies who maintain the strategic stockpile of medical devices may not take the stockpile into use independently and may only use the stockpile with the permission of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency, subject to a government decision. In a situation where the supply of one or more medical devices to Estonia is disrupted, the strategic stockpile under state control will ensure their availability to people with chronic conditions.
In developing the model for establishing the national stockpile of medical devices and supplies, the Estonian Stockpiling Agency was advised by a panel of ten top specialists in the field of health care.
Pursuant to the Public Information Act, the exact nomenclature, quantities, locations, and criteria for use of the state’s operating stockpile are not public information.
AS Eesti Varude Keskus (Estonian Stockpiling Agency, ESPA) is a state-owned strategic commercial undertaking that is responsible for maintaining an operation stockpile required for responding to emergencies and ensuring security of supply, national security, and subsistence to the population, as well as the establishment and deployment of infrastructure.
