Times Of Swaziland: NOW OR NEVER FOR HEALTH MINISTER

NOW OR NEVER FOR HEALTH MINISTER
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Martin Dlamini on 15/11/2024 08:19:00


When it comes to public discontent, few issues ignite outrage like the chronic
drug shortages at our health facilities.
Every day brings fresh headlines about inadequate supplies of essential
medications, leaving patients desperate and healthcare professionals frustrated.
Now, following the recall of various drugs, we learn that the country is
purchasing medications from manufacturers that have not been certified by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and that we lack a drug testing laboratory to
ensure we are not consuming counterfeit drugs. This crisis has eroded trust in
our government and its health system. While a sense of helplessness among
citizens prevails, there is rising anger towards those responsible for the
ongoing crisis; the suppliers, those who supervise them, and the Prime Minister
and his Cabinet, who do not seem to be doing enough as profit continues to take
precedence over patient well-being in this critical sector.
Plight
This plight was presented before the King and the nation at the recent Sibaya.
Promises were made when the new government took office that action would be
swift because ‘people’s lives matter’, but now suffering patients feel
betrayed. The discontent is further compounded by the apparent immunity enjoyed
by those responsible for their misery, despite damning evidence brought to light
in a forensic report detailing corruption and mismanagement within the drug
procurement processes at the Health Ministry. Not a single arrest has been made,
nor has there been a suspension of the suspects from supplying, while
investigations are ongoing. An absence of policies to address this situation has
been cited several times in responses, leaving us wondering whether these
policies supersede the constitutional right to life guaranteed to emaSwati.
This lack of accountability breeds cynicism, as citizens increasingly feel their
voices are being silenced by the influence wielded by those who run this sector.
Adding salt to the wound is the alarming news from the ministry regarding the
causes of recent drug recalls. Members of Parliament have been informed that one
reason for this is that some suppliers are sourcing drugs from manufacturers who
lack certification from the WHO.
Revelation
This astonishing revelation raises grave concerns about the quality and safety
of medications being administered to patients. It goes without saying that
ordering drugs from non-WHO-certified manufacturers increases the risk of
substandard or counterfeit drugs being supplied due to a lack of quality control
and regulatory oversight. This could be harmful to patients, particularly when
we hear of factories producing fake drugs in neighboring countries. Who is to
say these do not end up in our health facilities and pharmacies? Our brief
research revealed that it is not mandatory for countries to procure drugs from
WHO prequalified manufacturers, creating a loophole that some suppliers have
exploited to deliver substandard medication to emaSwati.
MPs have rightly demanded that the Health Ministry make it compulsory to procure
drugs only from WHO-certified manufacturers. Also disappointing is the fact that
the country does not have a drug quality testing facility. This is dangerous.
The minister had better get this facility up and running immediately! The
government has also announced that it is on the verge of procuring drugs
directly from manufacturers as part of the process to transform the drug
management system and reduce costs escalated by middlemen, which is a positive
step. When these drugs arrive, there should be systems in place to prevent the
theft of medication at the Central Medical Stores (CMS).
We have been informed that a management firm with highly qualified individuals,
boasting over 30 years of experience, has been engaged to execute the
transformation of the CMS and will start working this month. They had better
deliver. Holistically, a transparent procurement system must be enforced,
focusing not only on the suppliers but also on those involved in the tendering
processes, contract negotiations, and oversight.
Let us not forget that the consequences of these drug shortages extend far
beyond mere inconvenience to the public. For patients relying on life-saving
medications, the unavailability of drugs can mean the difference between life
and death. The emotional toll on families facing uncertainty about the health of
their loved ones is immeasurable and cannot be allowed to persist, while those
paid substantial salaries to ensure it does not happen seem unconcerned. New
promises have been made, as they were in the past, but they have not been
substantiated by action.
Hopes
This time, hopes for a turnaround must transition into concrete plans with
specific timelines and outcomes if the rising tensions are to subside. For the
health system to regain public trust, those responsible for previous
mismanagement must be held accountable, and new policies must be instituted to
ensure that similar failures do not occur in the future. The time for
half-measures and vague promises is over. The ministry must rise to this
significant drug test, demonstrating a genuine commitment to reform by
implementing practical solutions, embracing transparency and prioritising
patient welfare over political influence or profit. We deserve no less.
With the current suppliers’ contracts coming to an end and new ones set to
begin, there lies an opportunity for the Health minister and his officials to
implement wholesale changes in the drug supply chain. This is a critical turning
point in the fight against the drug crisis, and he cannot afford to miss it. If
he does, the next big call for change from an increasingly frustrated population
should be about who deserves to sit in his chair in Cabinet.