By ADRIAN MWANZA
EXERCISE some patience as drugs will roll into all hospitals as Government has acquired essential medicines that can cater for all health institutions, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Professor Luckson Kasonka, has said.
Prof Kasonka said he was aware that some hospitals had not yet received the commodities not because Government had not yet procured them but because delivery could not be done at a go.
He said that the process was not as easy as it looked as they were supposed to be transported to over 103, 236 hospitals in the country.
“We have acquired medicines for hospitals and that is why some hospitals have received essential drugs while others are yet to receive because of a number of factors at play,” he said.
He said Government had done everything possible to mitigate the drug shortages in the country.
Recently, Government indicated that it had released K543.4 million for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies in various public health institutions and K67 million for hospital operations.
The money was disbursed last week in addition to K650 million released in February for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.
Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa revealed in a statement that the Treasury also released K355.4 million to the Public Service Pension Fund to facilitate payment of dues to retirees and another K169.3 million to facilitate the ongoing implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
Mr Nkulukusa said the Treasury released K100 million under FISP to pay arrears to suppliers of fertiliser and seed, K97 million to help liquidate outstanding liabilities for previously consumed goods and services under various line ministries, provinces and agencies and K694.5 million for various projects and general government operations.
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