Times Of Swaziland: RELIEF AS 70% OF DRUGS DELIVERED

RELIEF AS 70% OF DRUGS DELIVERED
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Sifiso Dlamini on 28/01/2024 16:49:00


MBABANE – Relief is on the way as 70 per cent of drugs and medical supplies
consignment has been delivered.
Government continues to fulfill its promise of addressing the drugs shortage
crisis which has engulfed the country and intensified over the past few years.
In an attempt to address the drugs shortage crisis in the country, government
set up a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Minister of Commerce, Industry and
Trade, Manqoba Khumalo. The consignment was delivered yesterday by ASD Medical.
This was confirmed by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo. He, however,
revealed that the chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on the shortage of
drugs, Minister Khumalo will make a comprehensive statement on Monday on the
latest developments surrounding drugs shortage in the country.
huge consignment
“However, as the office of government press, we have been made aware that
indeed, a reasonably huge consignment to the value of 70 per cent of drugs has
been delivered according to the figures of the supplier and as confirmed by the
Ministry of Health Principal Secretary, Khanya Mabuza, who is working so hard
together with the Minister of Health, Mduduzi Matsebula, to resolve these
matters,” he said. Nxumalo added that due to the persistent nature of the
crisis on the drugs shortage situation in the country, government was obviously
happy at these latest developments and remained hopeful that the situation would
be normalised permanently in as far as the shortage of drugs in government
hospitals was concerned.
PS Mabuza, also confirmed the delivery of the drugs. Pertaining to the total
value of the delivered drugs, Mabuza said he could not say and assured that the
ministry would do stock levels this weekend. He said the statement about the
supplies and the stock levels could only come thereafter. Some of the delivered
drugs and medical supplies include, but not limited to, infective capsule and
tablets, such as amoxicillin, X-Ray consumables, such as ultravist, oncology
drugs, large volumes of intravenous fluids, popular known as IV fluids or drips
including sodium chloride solution. Opportunistic infections medicines, fluids
administration items including needles and syringes as well as wound dressing
supplies such as bandages.