Health Dept to manage medicines via new system

National

THE Health Department will use a new information technology system to manage its medicine supply to avoid any more shortages, Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu says.
Sir Puka told Parliament that the new IT system would keep track of medicine supplies in health facilities.
“We will also put the distribution of the medicine supplies to health facilities on tender,” he said.
Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom had questioned him on the medicine shortage faced around the country.
Sir Puka said the country had always faced issues on the supply of medicine because of financial constraints
“We never get the amount right for medicine supply over the years and that is why we have always had medicine shortage,” he said.
“But by keeping track of medicine supplies through the new IT system, and getting more companies involved in the logistics of medicine.”
He promised that in the first quarter of 2018, health facilities will have a full stock of medicine.
“I also call on all members and ministers to inform me if you know that health facilities in your areas are facing medicine shortage so that we can arrange emergency procurement for them as we have done for other facilities that were brought to my attention,” he said.