The Maravi Post

BLANTYRE—Malawi’s Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has began procuring medical supplies and essential drugs to address the drug shortage crisis.

CMST spokesperson Herbert Chandilanga claims that some drugs are already in the country. However, he couldn't say when the situation will normalize.

CMST, which is a government department responsible for procuring and distributing drugs to all referral and district hospitals, disclosed it had run out of 95 percent of essential drugs.

“CMST is procuring essential drugs to end the acute shortage of essential and basic medicines in the country to avoid preventable deaths.

“The department asked for extra funds as a bail out to procure at least enough drugs to stock pharmacies in all government hospitals,” said Chandilanga on Monday.

Meanwhile, the position of the indigenous medical and surgical suppliers, who were refusing to supply drugs to public hospitals until their K1 billion arrears are cleared, is unclear.

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(c) The Maravi Post 2013

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