By STANSLOUS NGOSA –
THE Government has procured 40,000 health centre kits of priority medicines required at the lower levels of the health care system for consumption this year.
Another consignment of essential drugs and medical supplies worth K290 million have been ordered and were currently being shipped to Zambia, a development aimed at mitigating the risk of drug stock outs.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde announced yesterday when he presented a ministerial statement on essential medicines and medical supplies to parliament.
“I wish to assure the nation that the Government has put the above measures to mitigate the risk of stock out of essential medicines and that the reforms that we have embarked on will continue and be intensified,” Dr Kasonde said.
However, in an effort to improve the drug supply, the Government has increased the budgetary allocation from K117 million in 2011 to K742 million in 2015.
The Government together with its cooperating partners has put in place a national supply chain strategy and implementation plan which is aimed at reforming the supply chain management.
Through this strategy, Government has invested heavily in the storage and distribution infrastructure of essential medicine and medical supplies as well as decentralising the Medical Stores Limited (MSL).
The decentralisation has resulted in the establishment of regional distribution hubs in Choma, Chipata and Mongu.
More facilities in Lusaka would be allowed to order drugs directly from MSL unlike going through the district, a situation which was cumbersome.
The upgrades would result in more visible and effective ordering system and consequently improve availability and access to essential medicines to the community serviced.
The Government in collaboration with its partners including the USA Government is expanding storage facilities at health centres and district level because the current storage facility is not adequate to store a lot of drugs for a long period.
This development would result in increased monthly held by all facilities.
MSL was also in the process of introducing an electronic ordering system that would provide real time inventory and ordering information to all end users for appropriate stock monitoring and decision making.
The Government would also further fast truck releases of finances to support timely procurement and distribution of essential medicines especially at district level where gaps have been observed.
On the drug pilfering, Dr Kasonde said the Government has intensified its surveillance and monitoring system for essential medicines.
A Task Force on pilferage has been constituted and would weigh heavily on any individual including health workers diverting health commodities procured by tax payers’ monies.
However, the reported drug shortage in some health centers in Lusaka was caused by poor information management regarding stocks available between MSL and affected health institutions.