Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) says it requires about K8 billion to renovate its Regional Medical Stores–South warehouse in Blantyre to improve the conditions and storage capacity for medicines and medical supplies.
CMST quality assurance manager David Kulemela told members of the Parliamentary Committee on Health on Saturday the warehouse, which was inaugurated in 1968, lacks proper heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, forcing the trust to improvise by using impeller fans to regulate temperatures inside the building.
The trust’s director of finance and administration Vincent Chilinda said the renovation would include replacing the roof, extending the walls and installing a cooling system suitable for pharmaceutical storage.
He noted that although the Buildings Department had initially estimated K5 billion for renovations in 2023, the overall requirement has now risen to about K8 billion.
Said Chilinda: “Due to limited capacity, we are not able to store enough supplies to adequately cover the Southern Region. Renovating the warehouse would help us improve service delivery and reduce costs associated with frequent supply deliveries.”
Apart from the renovation, CMST also plans to construct a National Pharmaceutical Warehouse in Lilongwe estimated to cost K24 billion.
Chilinda said CMST has allocated K2 billion to start the project and engaged development partners, including The Global Fund and the World Bank for support.
He also revealed that the country’s four central hospitals collectively owe the Trust about K10 billion while district hospitals owe K60 billion.
In the 2026/27 National Budget, government has provided K20 billion as part payment towards arrears for medicines and medical supplies drawn down from the trust in previous financial years.
Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Anthony Masamba said the facility requires significant investment, noting that medicines are critical and must be stored under proper conditions.
He said the committee will engage government and development partners to help mobilise resources for the renovation and the project in Lilongwe.
Established as a Trust in November 2010, CMST’s mandate is to procure, warehouse and distribute health commodities in Malawi.
The Trust has a receiving national pharmaceutical warehouse at its headquarters in Lilongwe and three regional medical stores – in Blantyre for the South, Lilongwe for the Centre and Mzuzu for the North.
It serves 700 public health facilities and others affiliated to the Ministry of Health, including Christian Health Association of Malawi hospitals.
