Drug Shortages in Malawi Continue

Two months ago, the government of Malawi assured citizens that drug availability in hospitals was becoming normalized. This assurance however, was false hope. Studies are revealing that only 15 percent of essential drugs have been produced. In May, Catherine Gotani Hara, the country’s Minister of Health addressed reporters saying that the drug shortage was normalizing following the delivery of 80 percent of medicine and pharmaceuticals produced by the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST). However, recent information from the CMST indicates that the company has only managed to produce 15 percent of the essential drugs. (Nyasa Times)

Six months prior, CMST released information stating Malawi was running dangerously low on essential drug and medical supplies with a 95 percent stock-out. The stock-out is now currently around 80 percent and the country awaits drugs that are being shipped in from countries such as Mozambique. When asked why the drugs were taking so long to arrive, CMST Executive Director Fred Mzoma blamed the delay on logistical hiccups in the shipment process. (Nyasa Times)

The serious essential drug shortage is affecting hospitals throughout the country. Doctors at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe sent a letter to President Joyce Banda asking her to help stop public hospitals from becoming "waiting rooms for death". At KCH, along with many other public hospitals, patients are being turned away and told to find treatment at private health facilities. The Health Ministries Principal Secretary, Charles Mwansambo, blamed the shortage on drug theft from warehouses by medical workers. However the Ministry is now assuring that there will be no more cases of drug theft because all remaining loopholes have been sealed.

In related news, President Joyce Banda has said her administration is making a point that health facilities with adequate standards will be available to all in Malawi at reasonable distances. Banda recognizes that the measure of a country’s development is based on the health of the people. President Banda spoke at a development rally after laying the foundation stone for the construction of Luvwere Health Center in Mzimbia West constituency. She said a country can’t develop without proper health facilities. (Nyasa Times)

Banda included in her speech that health facilities not only had to be close by, but also equipped with adequate resources. The Luvwere Health Center is among the first Health Centers of its kind being built under the standards and supervision of President Banda. This new health facility will address problems currently facing people in surrounding areas.

During her administration alone, President Banda plans to make sure at least 15 new health centers are constructed throughout the country.