07 Mar 2022

 Drug availability at Central Medical Stores currently stands at an average of 46 per cent, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness has informed Parliament.

“The current status of the availability of drugs at CMS is at 40 per cent, reagents are at 51 per cent and sundries (hospital supplies) are standing at 47 per cent. This gives us an average of 46 per cent,” assistant minister Sethomo Lelatisitswe said in response to a question.

Mr Lelatisitswe indicated that the maximum and minimum stock levels were established considering the shelf life of the product and the average delivery lead times.

He said for most products, the maximum stock levels were six months and three months minimum, adding however for ARVs, the maximum was eight months and the minimum was six months.

He added that products with shelf life of less than a year such as selected lab reagents were cross docked to the users soon upon delivery.

Currently, he said the availability for vital medicines was 38 per cent and that for essential medicines was 35 per cent, adding medicines for treatment of asthma and other non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer were mostly affected.

“Patients who miss their treatment schedules may have their medical conditions deteriorate because the diseases may not controlled,” he said.

The assistant minister also told legislators that as a short term plan, procurement of six months of stock through a waiver of largely utilised products was approved and the deliveries had already started, while another waiver was approved last week and orders would start in two weeks.

He further stated that DHMTs had been sub-warranted funds for micro-procurement in their respective localities.

He added that submissions for approval of procurement of other nine months of stocks waivers had been processed to ensure maintenance of optimum stock levels while three tenders were being floated and closing this month.

“In order to address the current challenge, government has started to engage pharmaceutical companies to set up plants to manufacture medicines and vaccines. In order to address the challenge of medicines for common chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer, the ministry is increasing sites for dispensing medicines for chronic diseases through the Associated Fund Administrators (AFA) Chronic Medicines Programme,” he said.

In addition to Gaborone and Francistown, he said, the ministry launched the programme  in Molepolole on February 3.

He added that the programme would commence in Mahalapye, Serowe, Palapye, Selebi Phikwe and Maun by April 30.

Furthermore, he said government had engaged pharmaceutical manufacturing companies for them to setup drugs manufacturing plants in the country.

“Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA) is charged with responsibility of regulating entry of drugs into the country and limiting access from in-country outlets. BoMRA’s mandate involves conducting public education campaigns and programmes as a way to strengthening public awareness on the negative effects of medicine abuse and misuse,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the ministry’s health promotion division provided continuous public education on safe use of medicines.

“My ministry has made a deliberate effort to lean more towards preventative approach to health and wellness. This refers to life-style changes comprising diet modification, exercise, regular check-up for early detection of diseases etc. The ministry continues to avail relevant resources to facilitate the above. This includes availing equipped testing centres, trained human resource, recreational parks, timely interventions and feedback to customers. To ensure success of above, my Ministry continues to provide public education,” he said.

On the other hand, he indicated that there were 61 officers at CMS who included the acting director, manager, 22 procurement officers, 13 officers in the logistics management unit, six officers in the quality assurance unit, two in the contract management unit, four Information Technology officers, four HR and Administration officers as well as six finance officers.

On other issues, Mr Lelatisitswe indicated that in line with the National Reset Agenda Item 3 on Digitalisation, the ministry would leverage on the use of technology to increase efficiency in logistics and supply management of pharmaceutical products.

“The ministry’s digitisation project will include automation of pharmaceutical warehouses in all health districts to provide a platform to ensure data visibility and monitoring of all pharmaceutical products,” he said.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on the status of medicines (drugs), reagents and sundries in health facilities. Mr Tshere also wanted to know the CMS’s staff compliment and if it was sufficient to carry out the needful for drug availability. ENDS