16 Oct 2024

A robust supply chain system of medicines should be implemented to help streamline the distribution process, reduce delays and improve inventory management.

This was said by Primary Health Care Acting Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr Samuel Kolane during the annual quantification seminar in Gaborone on Tuesday.

He said the time was now for the Ministry of Health to prioritise effective service delivery as well as reducing ineffectiveness.

Mr Kolane said they should look for barriers and seek best approach to improve health care services so that the right quantities of medical supplies were available.

“We do not want a situation where a commodity is out of stock at facility, yet available in warehouse,” he said.

Prediction of the future of medicine based on data, utilisation and consumption patterns, he said, should be used to curb the unavailability of stock in the facilities. Also, he called on Central Medical Stores (CMS) employees to prioritse effective service delivery, saying this was necessary as CMS played a key role in supporting the healthcare system and enhancing patient care. 

Mr Kolane said CMS was important in the timely distribution of medicines, which was a requirement in ensuring that health care facilities had medications.

Giving a CMS availability report, monitoring and evaluation specialist, Ms Tumisang Phaladi said the availability of pharmaceuticals Vitals, Essentials and Non-essential medicine continued to be stable at 78 per cent vital, 67 per cent essential and non-essential standing at 62 per cent from January to date.

Ms Phaladi said most programmes were exhibiting an availability of over 94 per cent including ARV and vaccines. ENDS