Hospital officials arrested over drug theft
Police in Dedza have arrested two officers from Dedza District Hospital and a businessman for stealing medical drugs amounting to K831,000 ($1 102).
Dedza Deputy Police publicist Cassim Manda identified the hospital officers as Sifuliyano Nkhundula,45, a Pharmacy Technician, Lameck Mbendera, 40, a hospital driver and Victor Ulaya a businessman.
According to Manda on March 1 2016, police received a tipoff that a vehicle registration number MZ 2036 was carrying suspicious goods.
The drugs include amoxicillin, aspirin, doxycycline, metronidazole and cotrimoxazole just to mention a few. They have been certified and weighed by the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board.
“After searching, they found cartons of assorted medical drugs and Ulaya a vendor at Lizulu Trading Centre in Ntcheu, confessed to have brought the medical drugs from the pharmacist,” said Manda.
Manda said the three will appear in court soon to answer different charges.
According to the police, Ulaya will answer charges of illegal possession of medical drugs, Nkhundula will answer charges of theft by public servant while Mbendera will answer charges of theft.
He however bemoaned the increase in cases of drug pilferage at Dedza District Hospital attributing the increase to a tendency by senior medical personnel at the hospital who shield offenders by blocking evidence.
“It’s sad. When we take such criminals to court senior officers distort evidence by sometimes changing the figures of the cost of the drugs so that their colleagues escape from being given stiff punishment.
Hospital officials were not available to give a comment.
