Auditor General finds over $5 Billion in expired drugs and supplies to be dumped by Health Ministry

Auditor General finds over $5 Billion in expired drugs and supplies to be dumped by Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health is set to dump over $5 Billion in drugs and medical supplies that expired between January 2023 and June 2024, the Auditor General has highlighted in his latest report.

According to the report, a Register of Expired Drugs was not presented for Audit Examination. However, the Ministry provided lists containing Expired Drugs disposed and those on hand to be disposed at the Diamond and Ruimveldt locations.

The report stated that during the period January 2023 to June 2024, a quantity totaling $3.2 billion worth of expired drugs and supplies were disposed of by the Ministry of Health. In addition, a quantity totaling another $2.332 billion were still on hand to be disposed.

The Audit Office has recommended that the Ministry undertakes a survey to determine the realistic needs of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies at Health Institutions and ensure the proper storage of Drugs and Medical Supplies in order to reduce losses through expiration of improper storage; and dispose of all expired drugs in accordance with the Food and Drug Regulations.

Further, the Auditor General noted that as of December last year, over $5.5B in drugs which were purchased remained undelivered and subsequent deliveries received amounted to $2.1 billion at the end of August 2024.

The Audit office said that the Health Ministry had explained that the outstanding deliveries of $871 Million are due to the health supply chain unexpected changes in demand that adjusted delivery times for medicines and supplies after contracts were signed along with space constraints at the MMU bond.

The Auditor General stressed the need for the Health Ministry to hold suppliers accountable to their contractual agreement.

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