Capacity gaps force CMST to outsource services

The turning around of the Central Medical Stores (CMST) into a trust may be a long way from remedying the shortages of drugs in government hospitals because it lacks the capacity to fulfil its core mandate of purchasing, storing and distributing medical supplies for public health facilities.

Inexperienced personnel, storage limitations and a fleet of obsolete vehicles are some of the challenges impeding the trust’s operations.

The institution is planning to outsource the management of warehousing and distribution of medicines and medical supplies through a specialist service provider because it lacks capacity in these areas.

According to terms of reference (TORs) for the service procurement dated August 2013, CMST has obtained the green light from the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) to single source a service provider for an initial period of 12 months.

The main purpose of the assignment is to provide the management of warehousing and distribution services for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to over 700 health facilities in the country.

Some CMST employees are fearing for their jobs in the wake of the outsourcing. They are also questioning the rationale of hiring expertise that is available within the trust.

But CMST acting director Fred Mzoma has defended the decision as normal.

Nzoma said the trust already outsources other services such as security.

“This is funny and strange that concerned parties should rush to a newspaper than come to me and seek clarification. People should learn to be transparent. This is a temporary measure towards transition and one of the options was to outsource the management of a particular station. There is no job threat at all,” said Mzoma.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali said the ministry’s expectation was for the trust to have sufficient capacity to ably meet the demand for medicines and other medical supplies.

“Anything they do to improve efficiency in ensuring availability of medicines and supplies, we are for it,” said Chimbali.

Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) executive director Martha Kwataine said the civil society organisation has no problems with the arrangement if it ensures drug availability and prevents pilferage of medicines.

“Yes, we need to have an interim measure but it is time government became pro-active in drug matters,” said Kwataine.

ODPP spokesperson Mary Mbekeani said her office gave the go-ahead for the project because the medical supplies were expected to avert a stock-out from September to December.

“Since time was of the essence, the donors who are funding this phase granted their consent to this transaction,” said Mbekeani.