The United States government’s office in Malawi through its Ambassador Virginia Palmer has expressed sadness over continued stealing of medical drugs in the country’s public hospitals threatening to stop supplying them in next month if the condition will not improve.
The warning comes amid shortage of medicinal equipment and drugs in public hospitals which have left the general public desperate when attend to health facilities. Not only medical drugs are scarcity but also ambulances are grounded due to insufficient of fuel for their movements.
After country’s media was awash with stories on dwindling of health service delivery in public hospitals, last month, October, the Ministry of Health banned all public health facilities managers speaking to journalists that only its national public relation officer was mandated to address all matters of the ministry.
Ambassador Palmer was addressing the news conference on Tuesday, November 3, in the capital Lilongwe as reports are rife that medical drugs her government was offering to Malawi meant for free distribution to the needy in public health facilities were being stolen and sold in markets.
“The United States of America government is disappointed with the shortage of medical drugs which are being stolen in government clinics and sold in public markets meant for free distribution to needy Malawians. This malpractice is uncalled for and unacceptable.
“These medical drugs are bought using American tax payers’ money which I’m accountable to. These drugs are meant for the unprivileged Malawians who can’t afford to get such services in private health facilities. If the trend continues, I will be forced to instruct US government to stop supplying not only malaria drugs but other types of medicines as well to the Malawi government as early as next month.
“However, when such decision will be made, it won’t be good to the country’s general populace on medicinal access as they rely on public health facilities. It pains me considering that people may die if such a decision is enforced after America stops providing free medical drugs because of rampant theft. This is the reason, I calling those in authority to work on this matter as soon as possible before its get out of hand”, urges Ambassador Palmer.
Meanwhile, Malawi government has admitted that about 25% of medical drugs in public hospitals are being stolen and suggested changes in existing laws as a strategic measure in addressing the hiccup.