HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe has directed Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau to quickly set up a task force to look into the chronic shortage of drugs in the country.
He also ordered that the task force come up with an action plan within seven days.
He said it was obvious that the current pharmaceutical supplies distribution was inadequate.
“It is not meeting the needs of our people,” he told a crisis meeting with senior officers from the Health Department and representatives of donor agencies.
He said that despite substantial funding by both the Government and the donor partners, drugs were not reaching the people.
“There have been many investigations into the procurement and distribution function of the Medical Supply Branch that highlighted severe deficiencies in skills and management practices, yet little or no action have been taken to address theses issues.
“This is a chronic problem and I want a permanent solution to it.
“A new system is to be introduced and managed by new people,” he said.
Last week, The National reported that several health centres in Lae city had run out of medical drugs and were turning patients away.
One officer said this problem had existed for a long time and she could not understand why as the supply store was located nearby.