Govt counters medicine shortage

The health ministry has deployed various new strategies and mechanisms to ensure that the recurring shortage of essential medicines at public health facilities countrywide becomes a thing of the past. Penda Ithindi, the health ministry’s executive director, said the ministry has been working around the clock to enhance healthcare delivery, ensure consistent access to critical medicines and enforce new guidelines that will optimise stock management across all healthcare facilities. As part of the ministry’s newly introduced policy mandates, it is now mandatory that all medicines be maintained at a minimum supply level of 14 months until the next refill, with critical medicines secured for at least eight months until the next procurement.