Persistent theft of medicines from Malawi’s public health system continues to undermine efforts to stabilise supplies, with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation warning that drug diversion remains a major driver of shortages in hospitals.
Principal Secretary Dan Namarika said on Friday,on the sidelines of a meeting with the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, that theft is eroding gains made to keep the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) and public facilities adequately stocked.
“We need to close the leakages so that as we supply on one side, the taps are not leaking on the other,” he said
On addressing the current shortages, he said CMST has been funded to the tune of K27 billion and government has managed to pay between 70 and 80 percent of its local suppliers to ensure continued supplies of medicines.
Namarika said medicines worth billions of kwacha are already in the procurement pipeline and are expected to start arriving in the country, with further supplies expected between October 11 and 18.
However, CMST says the current shortages have also been caused by its outstanding debt to international suppliers, which stands at more than $18 million (about K31 billion) and that the debt has forced some suppliers to reduce deliveries, while others have stopped supplying altogether.
CMST chief executive officer Moses Chisale said in an interview the outstanding debt was one of the major factors behind persistent shortage of medicines in public health facilities.
He said some international suppliers had significantly reduced their deliveries because of the unpaid bills, while others had stopped supplying CMST pending payment adding that it is negotiating with the suppliers to resume deliveries as the government works to secure foreign currency to clear the debt.
Chisale said CMST has also been working to clear debts owed to local suppliers.
At the beginning of the financial year, the organisation owed local suppliers about K14 billion, but has since cleared more than half of the amount.
He admitted that delayed payments have affected suppliers in the past, citing the financial difficulties faced by the organisation.
Chisale said the value of contracts already awarded to local suppliers was about K10 billion, although he could not immediately provide the exact figure.
He said the latest tender, covering more than 180 products, was expected to add significantly to that amount once the evaluation and awarding process was completed.
Pharmaceutical Society of Malawi (Phasom) president William Mpute said the medicine supply chain needs an overhaul if the country is to deal with persistent shortages.
Mpute said beyond prioritising local supplies and sealing loopholes through which medicines are lost, the country should find lasting solutions to the causes of drug shortages.
“Drug shortages continue affecting the country. We need to priotise local manufacturers in the era of never ending geo politics conflicts. We to tighten punishment metted to offenders to deter would be offenders,” he said.
Public health commentator Maziko Matemba said increased funding needs to tighten loopholes through which medicines are lost.
Minister of Health Madalitso Baloyi said the ministry is working with local banks to secure foreign exchange that would help address the current medicine shortages.
