News / National
Zimbabwe hospitals battle drug shortages
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Zimbabwe's public hospitals and clinics are facing severe medicine shortages amid difficulties in securing a consistent supply of essential drugs, Deputy Minister of Health Sleiman Kwidini has told Parliament.
The shortages are forcing patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies, placing an additional financial burden on already struggling families.
Kwidini was responding to concerns raised in the National Assembly over the continued unavailability of medicines in public health institutions.
He acknowledged that Government was currently unable to provide all the medicines required in public hospitals and clinics, but said efforts were underway to improve supplies through partnerships with local manufacturers and international drug producers.
"For now, it is true that in hospitals, we do not have all the medication. We have some, but we are in the process of establishing partnerships where we could access some medication manufactured locally for minor ailments," he said.
Kwidini said the Government was also working through the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to establish direct arrangements with manufacturers of medicines that cannot be produced locally.
"For other medication which cannot be manufactured locally, we are establishing direct partnerships with the manufacturers of such medication through NatPharm, being guaranteed by the Minister of Finance, so that when such medication is available, it also becomes available in the public sector," he said.
The Government hopes the partnerships will create a more reliable supply chain for medicines and reduce the frequency of stock-outs at public health institutions.
The shortages have, however, raised concerns in Parliament, particularly over the impact on patients who are being forced to purchase medicines from private pharmacies at significantly higher prices.
Government's proposed approach is expected to focus on strengthening local pharmaceutical production while securing direct supply arrangements for medicines that remain dependent on imports.
The Health Ministry is also expected to work with NatPharm to ensure that medicines procured through the new arrangements are distributed to public hospitals and clinics when they become available.
The shortages are forcing patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies, placing an additional financial burden on already struggling families.
Kwidini was responding to concerns raised in the National Assembly over the continued unavailability of medicines in public health institutions.
He acknowledged that Government was currently unable to provide all the medicines required in public hospitals and clinics, but said efforts were underway to improve supplies through partnerships with local manufacturers and international drug producers.
"For now, it is true that in hospitals, we do not have all the medication. We have some, but we are in the process of establishing partnerships where we could access some medication manufactured locally for minor ailments," he said.
Kwidini said the Government was also working through the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to establish direct arrangements with manufacturers of medicines that cannot be produced locally.
"For other medication which cannot be manufactured locally, we are establishing direct partnerships with the manufacturers of such medication through NatPharm, being guaranteed by the Minister of Finance, so that when such medication is available, it also becomes available in the public sector," he said.
The Government hopes the partnerships will create a more reliable supply chain for medicines and reduce the frequency of stock-outs at public health institutions.
The shortages have, however, raised concerns in Parliament, particularly over the impact on patients who are being forced to purchase medicines from private pharmacies at significantly higher prices.
Government's proposed approach is expected to focus on strengthening local pharmaceutical production while securing direct supply arrangements for medicines that remain dependent on imports.
The Health Ministry is also expected to work with NatPharm to ensure that medicines procured through the new arrangements are distributed to public hospitals and clinics when they become available.
Source - ZiFM Stereo
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