13 Mar 2023

A wide shortage of medicines and medical commodities which included non-drug items has forced the Central Medical Stores (CMS) to make an emergency procurement and solicit any readily available stocks between November last year and March this year.

This was revealed by Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe in Parliament recently.

“The nation was in dire need and during that process, the CMS requested all suppliers to show availability of any readily available stocks in quantities and prices,” he said.

Mr Lelatisitswe said prior to placement of orders, technical evaluation of such products was done to verify if they fulfilled the quality requirements.

He told Parliament that about P26.9 million was committed, out of which items amounting to about P25.6 million were delivered while those costing about P1.3 million were not delivered.

Also, he said about P24.7 million was spent on 100 per cent citizen-owned companies while only P867 406 was spent on non-citizen ones.

“Considering the dire stock needs in the country, the ministry included all local suppliers to provide goods readily available in the emergency procurement made so far,” he said.

He however, said in future formal tenders would be reserved for local manufacturers to procure locally manufactured products under long term contracts to promote sustainable manufacturing.

He also explained that the ministry, through CMS, intended to have offers made to some citizen contractors that were set aside because due process was not followed in awarding them the 36-month framework contracts for the supply of dressings.

Kgalagadi South Member of Parliament, Mr Sam Brooks had enquired on the method of procurement of non-consumables items that the ministry through CMS carried out between November last year and March this year.

Mr Brooks also wanted to know how much was committed in value and whether everything was delivered as per orders as well as how much was bought from 100 per cent citizen companies versus non-citizens.

The legislators further wanted to know if it was true that some items that were manufactured in Botswana were not given a chance to bid exclusively. ENDS