By Netho Francisco

THE Government is committed to boosting the availability of medicines in hospitals and clinics to ensure access to quality health care and rehabilitation of patients in the country, a cabinet minister has said.
According to the stock status report released by national supplies firm NatPharm at the beginning of the third quarter, medicine supply levels were at 50 percent.
In an interview with The Patriot last week, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Dr Paul Chimedza said the Government had come up with a procurement model that would increase accessibility of medicines in the health sector.
He said it is the Government’s desire to have adequate medicines in all hospitals and clinics in the country.
“Medicines play a critical role in ensuring access to quality health care since they can prevent, treat, cure and rehabilitate individuals,” Dr Chimedza said.
“Provision of medicine, remains an overarching goal of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) as enshrined in the Zimbabwe National Health Strategy.”
Chimedza said there was need for the treasury to disburse funds for capacitating the national medicine procurement board NatPharmm.
“Health service provision, as we are all aware, is currently faced with many challenges such as limited budget resulting in shortage of medicines and surgical supplies,” he said.
“We appeal to the national treasury to disburse funds to boost operations at NatPharm so that our hospitals and clinics will be able to acquire cheap medicines.”
Meanwhile, the MoHCC received a donation of medicines valued at US$2,8 million from Celebration Health in partnership with Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and CitiHope International.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Dr Cimedza said the donation would assist in boosting the stocks of medicines and treatment of patients in the country.
He said private players were vital in resuscitating the health sector as the Government was facing financial challenges due to the illegal economic sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by the US and its allies.
“The medicines will fill an important gap in hospitals and clinics as they provide services to patients,” he said.
“We are going to ensure that the medicines are managed well and used rationally in the health institutions.”
“The MOHCC appreciates the support it is receiving from all sectors (private, multilateral donors and faith based organisations) and acknowledges that pooled actions accelerate attainment of universal health targets as opposed to fragmented and isolated efforts.”
Speaking at the same occasion, CitiHope chief executive Paul Moore said the medicines were intended to cure communicable diseases in the country.
“The medicines are not just in response to a crisis or to address the longstanding issues of communicable diseases, but rather it is about taking a proactive approach in dealing with problems like oncological and haematological disease, hypertension and diabetes,” said Moore.
“Africa continues to make remarkable advances on health issues like HIV and AIDS and malaria and we believe powerful responses to metabolic disease are just as important to the future in Zimbabwe and across the continent.”
Country manager for Coca Cola Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi Honest Marandu said his organisation was committed to working with the government in improving the lives of people in the country.
“We are committed to what we call the ‘Golden Triangle’ of business, government and civil society, and we see everyday how such partnerships are improving people’s lives and ultimately, changing the world for the better,” he said.
“Old models of philanthropy are giving way to shared value, where the interests of business and society become one.”
The medicines are intended to benefit at least seven hospitals that include Harare Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospital, Mpilo Central Hospital, Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Ingutsheni Hospital, Chikurubi Maximum Hospital and Khami Prison Hospital.
The donated medicines treat various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, angina, heart failure, high cholesterol, heart attacks, stroke, blood clot prevention, enlarged prostate, potassium deficiency and other infectious.