Minister of Health, Peter Kumpalume, has disclosed that about 128 health workers have been fired and charged with various crimes relating to drug theft in different health facilities across the country.
He has, however, decried that there still is a crop of personnel carrying on with the malpractice and has since issued a stern warning that more will continue to lose their jobs.
Speaking in Rumphi on Monday, Kumpalume wondered why some of his own staff and their accomplices outside the health system continue to trivialise government’s efforts in curbing drug theft.
“In the next three months, we will be naming and shaming everyone involved in these life endangering syndicates,” he said.
Over 20 culprits from across the country, according to Kumpalume, are already saving prison sentences while others are being tried in different courts.
“I have the names of the culprits, the crimes they committed and the places where they committed the crimes. This includes those that are not yet in the hands of the law enforcers, these are the few rotten apples that are frustrating my ministry and we will not let them continue,” he charged.
The minister then conceded that in recent years, Malawi’s hospitals have faced acute drug shortage due to overconsumption of drug budgetary allocations.
He was, however, quick to mention that misappropriation and pilferage of essential medical supplies have contributed to the development.
“Stocking essential drugs and enforcing hygiene practices among communities is very key to primary health care, so the two remain at the core of my ministry’s business.” he added.
Meanwhile, government is yet to make public outcomes and resolutions from an inquiry instituted few months ago in 29 district hospitals regarding the quick drug depletion.
Commenting on the issue of staff shortage, Kumpalume assured health workers in rural and hard-to-reach-areas that government will continue to offer them incentives for their work, as it works on solutions to the recruitment challenges.
Leave a Reply