Times Of Swaziland: Health ministry to destroy  expired ARVs, TB drugs

Health ministry to destroy  expired ARVs, TB drugs
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 WELCOME DLAMINI on 16/04/2013 00:00:00


MANZINI – The Ministry of Health is in the process of destroying expired
medicine worth an  undisclosed amount.
The medicine is kept at the Central Medical Stores in Matsapha.
By yesterday, the ministry’s employees were busy sorting out the medication in
preparation for the destruction.
Principal Secretary Stephen Shongwe disclosed that this was a ‘normal’
exercise where the ministry took stock to determine which medicine expired and
which is still worthy to be prescribed to patients.
Sources have informed the Times newspaper that the ministry, through a previous
employee, ordered more medication than needed.
The medication to be destroyed, sources said, include antiretroviral (ARV) and
tuberculosis (TB) drugs.
ARVs are used for treating HIV/AIDS.
Swaziland is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of HIV
prevalence and also has a high rate of TB infections.
Shongwe, said authority would have to be sought before the medication is
destroyed.
"Currently, what is happening is stock-taking, which is a normal exercise.
"After this process, we will know how much stock has expired. This is government
property, so authority will have to be granted before we destroy them.
"An incinerator will also have to be on site for the destruction to happen. But
the decisions will be made once the sorting of the stock is complete," the PS
explained.
... govt does not overstock - Xaba
MBABANE - The Minister of Health Benedict Xaba said what was being destroyed was
SteriTech Disinfectant Solution, which is used for sterilising dental equipment.
"This gives us the idea that Swazis do not go for dental check-ups. We have
expanded our dental activities throughout the country but we need to encourage
people to utilise dental services."
Xaba disputed that there was expired medication, instead, he said his ministry
had now been able to limit overstocking.
"In the past we used to overstock and end up burning medication after it
expired. But we have improved our purchasing processes as we are now able to
determine how much stock is needed for every particular drug," he added.
Asked on the value of the SteriTech Solution to be destroyed, Xaba said: "The
auditors are still on site, so the solution has not yet been costed."
suffered
In 2010 and the subsequent year, the kingdom suffered an acute shortage of drugs
at the height of serious cash-flow problems as a result of the decline in its
SACU receipts and the global economic downturn. The drugs shortage even led to
HIV/AIDS groups taking to the streets demanding that government sort out the
problem.
The protest action was led by, among others, the Swaziland Positive Living
(SWAPOL), the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) and the Swaziland
National Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (SWANNEPHA).
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COMMENTS:
- It is very surprising that Govt destroys such  medication. People are dying
because there is no medication in hospitals  and time and again H+ people have
complained that there are no ARVs in  hospitals. This is Swaziland for you!
April 16, 2013, 7:57 am, MAGEBA