Frazer Potani, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi's government has assured citizens in the country that the drugs that were procured on behalf of the state by members of the donor community are safe.
One of the challenges that has emerged following the bad blood between Capital Hill in Lilongwe and its traditional donors is shortage of drugs in public hospitals after the development partners have withdrawn their budgetary support on allegations of the Bingu wa Mutharika administration’s failure to respect rule of law, good governance and human rights.
“The Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board [PMPB] would like to inform the general public and all District Health Officers that the drugs under the kit system or any other drugs that are currently being distributed to Government and CHAM [Christian Health Association of Malawi] facilities have been tested and certified to be of high quality, efficacious and safe.
Since the development partners came to support the Ministry of Health by procuring drugs on its behalf that are in kit form, several issues have risen surrounding the efficacy, safety and quality of the drugs,” said in a statement Malawi Health Ministry Public Relations Officer Henry Chimbali jointly with Acting PMPB Registrar Aaron Glyn Sosola.
The two add that as a matter of standard practice and following the policy, mandate and the responsibility entrusted in the office of the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board, all drugs that are used in the health facilities in Malawi are tested for quality before distribution.
“This is always a routine process that has to be undertaken by the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health facilities are required to receive and administer drugs that have only been certified by the responsible institution in the country,” they said.
The dual therefore said the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board and the Ministry of Health would like therefore to inform the general public that it is the responsibility of the Malawi Government to ensure that Malawians are not using substandard drugs and any drugs and supplies that have been found to have by passed the quality control process will be confiscated and an appropriate legal action will be undertaken to the importers and dispensers.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Health would like to assure the general public that all drugs distributed to health facilities have passed a rigorous quality control process,” they said adding that meanwhile, the distribution of the drugs in Malawi will continue and the Ministry welcomes all the concerns and feedback that would improve the availability and reduce misuse of the drugs in the country’s public hospitals.
Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN) National Coordinator Martha Kwataine expressed fears that Malawi risks losing gains attained in the health sector including mothers and newborn babies deaths reduction due to among other things, the ever resurfacing fuel and forex including drug shortages.
“Fuel and forex are very vital in child and maternal health care and the health sector in general,” she said.
Kwataine added that fuel availability in ambulances help pregnant women get to the hospital in good time during emergency hence preventing deaths of mothers.
“If mothers and babies and the sick in general are to get treatment in hospital, stocks of drugs and equipment are also required and to purchase these, government uses forex,” she explained adding that fuel availability also enables Central Medical Stores (CMS) vehicles deliver drugs in public hospitals.
Kwataine further said another challenge posing to Malawi’s strides in the health sector is shortage of human resources.
“There is an urgent need for Malawi Government to recruit more health personnel and made drugs and equipment available in the public health facilities,” she said Kwataine adding that some Malawian rural areas in Malawi are even far from public health facilities.
She also appealed to government to improve the welfare and working conditions of health workers including nurses and midwives to attract more patients including pregnant women to seek treatment in public health facilities.
“Due to lack of motivation at work some health workers including nurses and midwives have been ill-treating patients including pregnant women and this has been forcing the clients shun seeking treatment from public health facilities and seek such services they desperately need from eslewhere,” said Kwataine.
She also appealed to Malawi Government authorities to consider repairing the country’s current sour relationship between Lilongwe and members of the donor community.
“It’s members of the donor community who were funding our country’s under-resourced and limping health sector. Of great concern is that the impact of this sour relationship between the donors and our government is negatively impacting on the health of the poor masses especially poor women and children in the rural areas and not those in authority who live in comfort using taxpayers money,” said Kwataine.
Malawi's government has assured citizens in the country that the drugs that were procured on behalf of the state by members of the donor community are safe.
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