Scores of health facilities across the country are experiencing a chronic shortage of medicine supply.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Grace Muzila informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in a report that “Commodity availability continues to be a major challenge for the ministry, with 2021/2022 into 2022/23 being the most affected years.”
She said the main reason for the severe shortage of medical supplies is due to lockdowns which were implemented globally in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus plus the consequent disruptions of surface and air transportations causing significant interruption to the supply chain.
Muzila said the production and supply of products slumped and the demand rose sharply causing huge increases.
Muzila was hopeful that, “Despite the challenges as outlined above, one notable initiative is that during the supply chain crisis caused by the pandemic, several emergency procurement efforts were initiated. These include engagement of UNICEF, the Global Fund, the Global Drug Facility and USAID.”
She added that, “We were able to successfully secure the ARVs needed for a year and enough to cater for nearly 300, 000 enrolled patients. With this, it was possible to implement the Multiple Months Dispensing (Patients received up to 3 months’ supply in a visit.”
She further indicated that this was aimed at keeping patients away from health facilities, to minimize travel and the risk of contracting the Covid-19 infections during health visits.
Muzila said the Ministry is currently evaluating tenders for the framework contracts.
“Collaboration with foreign missions to source supplies from international manufacturers and other non profit making pooled procurement entities is ongoing with deliveries already scheduled by some mission officers,” she said. Muzila said the rollout of chronic medication dispensing program has been expedited to further improve medicine availability. As at 5th May 2022, 11, 590 people were enrolled under the program across the country, with 17 pharmacies dispensing.
On a related matter, Muzila said challenges identified by one of the studies was that HIV provision service were the harsh Covid-19 environment, which affected almost all HIV programs; with reduced Prevention of Mother to Child Transmissions (PMTCT) attendances, reduced HIV testing coverage, reduced ARV initiations and circumcision.
Muzila said five in ten of TB patients in Botswana are also infected by HIV, further complicating the management of the two diseases due to the impact of both diseases on the body and the side effects of the drugs taken to treat the diseases.
With regard to child health, Muzila said, under-five mortality remains a serious challenge with most deaths occurring in the category of neonates. “To assess modifiable factors that contribute to under-5 mortality and developed appropriate interventions the National Under-five mortality committee continues to audit under-five deaths,” said Muzila.
