The Ministry of Health wishes to categorically refute recent reports of acute medicine shortage in government hospitals as carried by some media houses. Malawi is still resource constrained especially with our lean budget. However, Government is trying to prudently utilize whatever is available.
The following are the facts with regard to availability of medicines at both hospitals and Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST):-
1. All hospitals are supposed to submit monthly reports and monthly orders of the medicines and medical supplies by the 10th day of the upcoming month. Based on this, CMST draws up delivery schedule to the health facilities, including health centres. In the event that a District Health Officer makes late submission, CMST is not able to deliver on time.
2. As of 21st July, 2015, most of the sampled facilities across the country had ample stocks of vital supplies. These include Mwanza, Thyolo, Nsanje District Hospitals, Queen Elizabeth and Zomba Central Hospitals in the Southern Region, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, Karonga, Mzimba District Hospitals and Mzuzu Central Hospital in the Northern Region, and Ntchisi, Lilongwe, Dedza, Salima District Hospitals and Kamuzu Central Hospitals in the Central Region. Some district hospitals in the Centre such as Kasungu and Ntcheu District Hospitals submitted their requisitions late. CMST has, however informed the two hospitals to collect their supplies from Regional Medical Stores (centre).
3. Recognizing the current economic situation in the country, the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the CMST has come up with a list of medical supplies that MUST always be in stock. These commodities are the ones whose availability must be ensured at all times. CMST will prioritize procurement of the same. Currently, availability of these VITAL supplies is around eighty percent (80%).
4. The responsibility of CMST is to deliver medicines and medical supplies at the facilities. It is however the responsibility of the health facilities and the hospital advisory committee to ensure that these supplies are not misused/abused at the facilities.
The Ministry of Health wishes to assure the public that it is working towards making the MUST HAVE LIST fully available in all health facilities in the country. The Ministry wishes to call upon media institutions to contact it at any time to verify facts related to issues of health, as unfounded stories would just create unnecessary panic in the communities.
The Ministry further wishes to encourage the public at large to report any malpractices taking place in our health facilities.
