The government is losing millions of dollars every year because some health workers at public hospitals are stealing medicines and medical supplies and selling them to private pharmacies. This was revealed by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The issue was brought up by Gutu South MP and Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi, who asked whether there were any controls to ensure that medicines purchased by the government actually reach patients instead of ending up in private pharmacies. Togarepi said the pilferage of drugs by hospital staff was making shortages at public health institutions worse.
Kwidini admitted that the leakages were costing the government heavily. “After buying medication, people steal from hospitals for resale in their pharmacies,” he said. He added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed that those who steal should be arrested.
To curb the theft, the Ministry has engaged a company to install a tracking system that will monitor the movement of medicines from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to hospitals and pharmacies across the country. “We now have a tracking system that has been installed. With this new system, we are going to ensure that our medication is protected in hospitals,” Kwidini said, warning that perpetrators would face prosecution.
The original question was raised by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP Blessing R. Makamure, who said residents were struggling to access healthcare. He noted that patients are often just given prescriptions and then forced to buy medication from private pharmacies. He asked what the government was doing to ensure that residents get all services from government hospitals.
Kwidini acknowledged that access to medication at hospitals and clinics remains a challenge. He said that while medication was previously accessible, there have been difficulties in maintaining a constant supply. “For now, it is true that in hospitals we do not have all the medication. We are in the process of establishing partnerships to access some medication manufactured locally for minor ailments,” he said.
The deputy minister added that the government is pursuing public-private partnerships to subsidise imported drugs and to support local manufacturers so that medicines become more affordable. He noted that currently the government does not have its own pharmaceutical manufacturing company, but local producers are supplying hospitals and will be assisted to reduce costs.
This crackdown on drug theft comes amid persistent shortages in public health facilities, where patients often have to buy medicines from private pharmacies at high prices. The new tracking system is expected to seal loopholes and ensure that government-funded medicines benefit the intended recipients.
