Health Ministry working to stabilise medicine, supplies’ shortage

After inheriting expired drugs

Government is seeking to stabilise the shortage of supplies and medicines in the health sector, after inheriting millions of dollars in expired drugs from the last Administration.

This was according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during a recent COVID-19 update, where he noted that the main focus is to remedy the short-term demand. Efforts are also on stream to have enough supplies for six months. A few weeks ago, there were shortages of key medicines and other materials, causing the need for urgent procurement.
“What we’re trying to do now is ensure that we have enough supplies and we have been going out to tender to ensure that we have adequate supplies. We had severe shortages of a number of essential medicines so we’re trying to remedy that. We also had shortages of reagents for laboratory equipment so we’re working to ensure that we have adequate supplies,” the Minister shared.
He added, “over the last month or two, we have been trying to get emergency supplies so that we can make the system work and now we’re trying to get a much larger quantity so that we can have for about six months. By next year, we’ll have adequate amount so that we can plan properly and ensure that we try to reduce the level of shortages.”

APNU/AFC’s wasteful spending
Last September, Dr Anthony slammed the former APNU/AFC coalition Government for wasteful spending – which had caused billions of taxpayers’ dollars to be expended in vain.
During his budget presentation, he disclosed some of the shocking revelations and discoveries made when he assumed office last month, positing that the sector was “emblematic of corruption” under the former Government. This primarily surrounded the purchasing of close to $1 billion in expired pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, which cannot now be used to treat patients.
“Another travesty is that, in the midst of shortages and stockouts, is that drugs that have been expired and sitting at the bond. Just an example: from January to August of this year, about 1,663,032 items, valued at $732 million, have expired. Another $200 million is scheduled to expire by the end of December, which would mean that close to $1 billion would’ve been wasted on expired medicines and supplies,” the Minister had informed the National Assembly.
To exacerbate the situation, Government had to spend millions for the Materials Management Unit of the Ministry to safely dispose of the materials.
He added, “As if this was not bad enough, to get rid of these expired drugs, it would cost the MMU at least another $3 million to move it and take it to the dumpsite.”
As at August, some 60 per cent of the MMU’s special capacity was filled with expired medicines and medical supplies, or with items deemed unfit for human use. Because the facility was “filled to the brim” with these useless items, staffers were unable to do efficient stocktaking and locate the needed medicines. (G12)