US responds with action on rampant drug thefts in public hospitals

The US government has come in swiftly and handy to curb rampant medicine drugs in public hospitals by constructing drug warehouses at public health facilities.

The US and the Malawi governments have since signed a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for the construction of the warehouses that will now enable authorities determine who went into the warehouses and how much drugs have been taken away.

Officials from USAID, development arm of the US embassy are upbeat that the move would help drastically reduce incidents of thefts.

Principal secretary for ministry of Health Macpheral Magwira who signed the memorundum of understanding on behalf of the Malawi government, said this was a milestone in the government’s quest to control the thefts.

“We are reviewing the whole drug management. Theft of drugs starts from the Central Medical Stores to hospitals,” he said.

He said the warehouses will give detailed accounts of drug consignments, those who received and drugs that are going out.