The Malawi Minister of Health Jean Kalirani has scheduled to meet District Health Officers (DHOs) across the nation aimed at coming up with measures to combat drugs loses and shortages in public hospitals.
The indaba which has been slated for August 4-5, 2015 in the capital Lilongwe comes in the heels of the general public outcry who have been unable to access essential drugs in the public health facilities.
Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Friday, July 31, 2015, the Health Minister Kalirani assured the general public that they should not be panic on drugs shortage in public hospitals saying the nation has enough stocks of medicines and supplies at Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) of about 70%.
“Recent reports on a health sector in crisis and near collapse are very disturbing and misleading to the Malawi nation in the sense that stock status of medicines and medical supplies isn’t what the media is reporting.
“The stock position in the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has immensely improved over the last 18-24 months. Towards end of 2013 and early 2014, stock-out rate was 95% while by June 30, 2015 was at 30%, meaning with have medicines and medical supplies of about 70%.
“All hospitals are supposed to submit monthly reports and orders of the medicines and medical supplies by 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 (DHO) makes late submission, CMST isn’t able to deliver on time”, assures Dr Kalirani.
Dr Kalirani attributed the problem to some health workers for stealing and conniving with private hospital owners on government drugs in exchange of money at the expense of poor Malawi who can not afford to access the same services in private health facilities.
“Several studies have established that medicines and medical supplies leakage has been a chronic problem in public health facilities due to some unscrupulous health workers who connive with private health practitioners to move commodities from public health institutions to private health clinics and at times to street markets. Some government medical supplies have even been found their way out side of the country which is very disturbing and criminal acts.
“It is in this regard, I am summoning all DHOs to a meeting the coming week on August 4-5, 2015 to discuss possible tactics in addressing the challenge on supply chain management which remains critical and a matter of urgency”, proclaims Health Minister Kalirani.
The Maravi Post later spoke to Feston Kaupa, CMST Chief Executive Officer on prospects of drugs stocks at the institution who assured the general public that all Must List of Essential Drugs were intact of about 944 categories of medicines and medical supplies.
“We have enough stocks for the most essential medicines and medical supplies only that late order submission was the challenge on the part of the public health facilities managers. Actually, CMST responsibility is to deliver medicines and medical supplies at a health facility such that the lest of the job of keeping and proving to the public lies to the facilities authority through Advisory committee to ensure that these supplies aren’t misused or abused at the facilities.
“On our party, we have introduced electronic delivery system which will track down any misconduct of the supply chain to health facilities. This will curb any malpractice that occurs on the way to the delivery point of medicines and medical supplies”, assures Kaupa.
