Zimbabwe: Govt Losing Millions As Health Workers Steal Drugs for Resale - Deputy Minister Says
[New Zimbabwe] THE government is losing millions of dollars through the theft of medication and hospital supplies by employees at public health institutions, Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini has said.
The Zimbabwean government is incurring significant financial losses due to the theft of medication and hospital supplies by public health employees, according to Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini. During a National Assembly hearing, Kwidini confirmed that some hospital staff members are acquiring drugs intended for patients and subsequently selling them to private pharmacies.
The issue was brought up by Gutu South MP and Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi, who suggested that the pilfering of medicines is exacerbating shortages at public health facilities. Kwidini stated that the government is losing substantial amounts of money due to these thefts, which occur when government-purchased medication is stolen and resold instead of reaching the intended patients.
The President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, has emphasized that those caught stealing should be arrested. In response, Kwidini announced that the Ministry of Health and Child Care has partnered with a company to install a tracking system for monitoring the movement of medications from factories to hospitals and pharmacies. This new system aims to protect the medication within hospitals, with perpetrators facing prosecution.
Despite this effort, Kwidini acknowledged that access to medication in public hospitals and clinics remains a challenge. He acknowledged recent improvements in accessing medication, but admitted that constant supply issues persist, and some hospitals lack adequate medication. Kwidini also mentioned that the government is exploring public-private partnerships to subsidize imported drugs and support local manufacturers to make medicines more affordable.
Currently, no local medication manufacturing company exists, but Zimbabwean individuals are actively producing and supplying medications to hospitals. The government aims to assist these players to subsidize and make medications more affordable for the public.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
