WHO’s top suppliers in 2021

In 2021, the World Health Organization’s total procurement volume amounted to almost $1.7 billion, making the agency the sixth biggest procurer among the organizations within the United Nations system. Data from the U.N.’s annual statistical report — which only covers contracts over $30,000 — shows that of this amount, $1.3 billion was spent on major contracts. This is down $115.1 million from the previous year, but that needs to be placed in context. There was a massive jump in major contract spending in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic response. That year’s $1.4 billion tally was more than twice the spending on major contracts in 2019. We dig into the major contracts data to see where the money went and who got the biggest share among suppliers. WHO’s top supplier countries and priority sectors Among the supplier countries, Denmark ranked first, with $212 million, or 16.1% of the total amount spent on major contracts. Others in the top 10 contractor countries were: • Switzerland: $148.7 million • China: $87.3 million • Singapore: $63.1 • Yemen: $61.8 million • Netherlands: $53 million • India: $52.9 million • United States: $41.7 million • Pakistan: $41.6 million • United Kingdom: $39.1 million. Of these, three — Yemen, India, and Pakistan — are ranked as low- and middle-income countries. Overall, the top 10 supplier countries won $801.2 million — 60.8% of the total spending on major contracts. The majority of WHO’s major contracts went to four sectors: • Management and administration services: $235.3 million • Medical equipment and supplies: $224.1 million • Pharmaceuticals, contraceptives, and vaccines: $179.6 million • Laboratory and testing equipment: $165.3 million WHO’s top suppliers in 2021 The top 10 suppliers received $246.6 million — 18.7% of WHO’s total spending on major contracts. Among the top suppliers, five were also part of the top 10 in 2020: PF Line Proxy Suppliers, China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation, Implenia, BGI Health (Hong Kong), and Imres. Seven suppliers are based in high-income countries: Ireland, France, Netherlands, Singapore, and Switzerland, while the rest are from China and India. 1. Central Asia Development Group Founded: 2002 Location: Orchard Road, Singapore Total procurement value: $48.9 million CADG is an engineering company that has worked with a number of organizations, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, Canadian International Development Agency, Chemonics International Inc., and various agencies under the U.N. system. With $48.9 million awarded for building and maintenance services, it’s the first time that the company has been listed among WHO’s biggest suppliers since 2016. 2. PF Line Proxy Supplier Founded: N/A Location: Geneva, Switzerland Total procurement value: $32 million PF Line Proxy Supplier, a Switzerland-based company whose information cannot be shared for confidentiality reasons, according to the U.N., was awarded $32 million for transportation, storage, and mail services. It also ranked fourth among top suppliers in 2020. 3. China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation Founded: 1981 Location: Beijing, China Total procurement value: $29.3 million China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation, a subsidiary of state-owned Sinopharm, received $28.9 million for medical equipment and supplies and $408,000 for laboratory and testing equipment. This includes hospital equipment and supplies, laboratory consumables, and personal protective equipment, or PPE. The pharmaceutical company was WHO's second biggest supplier in the previous year. 4. Implenia Founded: 2006 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Total procurement value: $24.3 million A construction and real estate service provider, Implenia remains as one of WHO’s top suppliers — up one rank from the previous year. It received $24.3 million for building and maintenance services. 5. BGI Health (Hong Kong) Founded: 2010 Location: Hong Kong, China Total procurement value: $22.1 million A regional headquarters of China-based life science and genomics company, BGI Group, BGI Health (Hong Kong) was awarded $22 million for laboratory and testing equipment and another $100,000 for medical equipment and supplies. It ranked as the third biggest supplier in 2020. 6. Imres Founded: 1980 Location: Lelystad, Netherlands Total procurement value: $20.6 million Imres is a Dutch company that forms part of the Imperial Logistics Group. The biggest bulk of its contract, worth $18.4 million, went to medical equipment and supplies. The rest went to pharmaceuticals, contraceptives, and vaccines; laboratory and testing equipment; and transportation, storage, and mail services. The company ranked tenth among top suppliers in 2020. 7. IPE Global Limited Founded: 1998 Location: New Delhi, India Total procurement value: $19.9 million IPE Global is a consultancy firm that provides technical assistance on development agenda. It received $19.6 million for management and administration services and $270,800 for engineering and research services. 8. SD Biosensor Founded: 1999 Location: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Total procurement value: $19.2 million SD Biosensor is an in vitro diagnostics company. It was awarded $19.2 million for laboratory testing and equipment. This includes diagnostics and research biologicals, laboratory reagents and chemicals, and other laboratory consumables. 9. Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Founded: 2011 Location: Galway, Ireland Total procurement value: $16 million Abbott Rapid Diagnostics is Abbott Ireland’s international hub for its rapid diagnostics business. It supplied $16 million-worth of laboratory and testing equipment. 10. Cepheid HBDC SAS Founded: 2011 Location: Maurens-Scopont, France Total procurement value: $14.3 million Cepheid’s High Burden Developing Country program is focused on using GeneXpert, a trademarked diagnostic tool, to detect tuberculosis. It is among WHO’s biggest suppliers, with $14.3 million for laboratory and testing equipment. Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free five-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850 sources in addition to our analysis and news content.