Some patients seeking medical attention at Tengani Health Centre in Nsanje had a rude awakening yesterday when they were sent back as reports indicate the facility has run-out of essential drugs.
People are now being forced to purchase the drugs from a private clinic and local shops in the area.
Bertha Masauko is a resident of the area and says some patients who came earlier on Monday only received two tablets of aspirin with an instruction to buy the rest of the required drugs from local shops.
“Only those who have money can afford to buy the prescribed treatment,” she says.
Other residents agree with Masauko; fearing the situation puts them at a high risk of consuming expired drugs that may end up harming their lives.
Officials at the health center declined to comment on the drug availability. But Nsanje District Hospital spokesperson, George Mbotwa could neither confirm nor deny the development; saying he needed more time to find out.
“I have no knowledge on the matter, so let me check with the authorities from the facility in question,” said Mbotwa.
Tengani Health Centre caters for a population of over 15,000 including some Mozambican nationals.
Government has repeatedly blamed the shortage of drugs in the country’s public hospitals on disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of foreign currency with the drug budget reduced drastically since 2019.
In May this year, health ministry officials admitted they would struggle to source essential drugs as there wasn’t enough money.
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