The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched an internal investigation into alleged fraudulent activities within the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain, implicating some of its own staff members.
This was announced in a media release issued on Friday by executive director in the ministry Penda Ithindi.
Ithindi says the ministry has uncovered information suggesting that certain staff members within the ministry, particularly at the Central Medical Stores, may be complicit in fraudulent activities.
According to the executive director, the alleged activities include the manipulation of stock data and theft, and diversion of pharmaceutical supplies within the national supply chain.
The ministry warns that such actions could have serious consequences for the delivery of healthcare services.
“The alleged manipulation of stock level information and the diversion of these life-saving resources severely undermine the ministry’s ability to provide adequate healthcare services,” the statement reads.
It alleges that the activities may have been aimed at creating artificial shortages.
“It is further alleged that these actions have resulted in the deliberate creation of artificial shortages, seemingly intended to generate public panic and trigger emergency procurement processes,” Ithindi says.
He says the ministry is treating the allegations with urgency and has already taken interim measures.
“With immediate effect, the staff members implicated have been formally reassigned away from the specific Central Medical Stores functions, pending the outcome of the investigation,” he notes.
He adds: “The ministry is working closely with law enforcement and other relevant authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.”
The ministry cautions that those found guilty will face serious consequences.
“Should the investigation conclude that the implicated individuals are guilty of these fraudulent activities, appropriate disciplinary and criminal proceedings will be instituted, and those responsible will be charged to the full extent of the law,” Ithindi says.
The ministry says it remains committed to addressing corruption within the system and ensuring the availability of medicines.
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