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.
Health and Child Care deputy minister Sleiman Kwidini revealed that the Zimbabwean government is suffering significant financial losses due to healthcare workers stealing medication and hospital supplies. He was responding to questions in the National Assembly concerning the pilferage of pharmaceuticals by personnel at public health institutions. The issue was brought up by Gutu South MP and Zanu PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi, who expressed concern over the worsening shortages at public health facilities.
Togarepi inquired about existing control mechanisms to ensure that government-purchased medication ultimately benefits patients rather than being resold in private pharmacies. Kwidini acknowledged that the situation was costing the government heavily, stating that after purchasing medication, employees are stealing it from hospitals for resale in their pharmacies. The President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, has vowed that those who engage in theft will be arrested.
Kwidini announced that his ministry had engaged a company to install a tracking system to monitor the movement of medicines from NatPharm to hospitals and pharmacies. This new system aims to protect medication within hospitals, with perpetrators facing prosecution. CCC MP Blessing R. Makamure highlighted the struggle of residents in accessing healthcare, often being given prescriptions but having to purchase medication from pharmacies.
Kwidini acknowledged that access to medication at hospitals and clinics remains a challenge, with a recent focus on maintaining a constant supply. He mentioned that while medication was accessible in the past, there is currently a lack of constant supply in hospitals. To address this issue, the government is exploring public-private partnerships to subsidize imported drugs and support local manufacturers to make medicines more affordable.
Currently, the government does not have a company that manufactures medication locally, but it does partner with Zimbabweans who supply hospitals with medicines. The deputy minister assured that the government will assist such players to subsidize and make medication more affordable for the people.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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