Medicines here but work has only begun

GOOD news that the medical supply kits are now in the country and work has started to have them distributed to health centres and aid posts.
Earlier last month, The National received a lot of reports and requests from health workers who were saying that medical supplies have either run out or were running low.
This is an ongoing issue and we see that the Health Department under the command of Sir Puka Temu is putting all efforts into ensuring the systemic problems in the system are corrected.
A lot of challenges are faced with getting drugs to the right facilities on time – security, transport issues and the list goes on.
One important factor is the need to plan, manage and place orders for medical supplies early – long before they run out.
Health secretary Pascoe says some facilities place their orders late or not at all and later complain about drug supplies running low.
Some complain without checking the ‘general area’ medical supply store in their region, where supplies of medicine should be.
Being proactive won’t hurt, and hopefully that is not too much to ask for.
Those in the system should know that procuring medicines can take up to six months, just to get them into the country, and another month to distribute them.
And one cannot tell health officials to manage their stock level to last for an intended period of time as no one knows when an outbreak can strike.
The process of improving the manner in which much-needed medical supplies are delivered to the right place at the right time must continue.
The process for ordering and supplying medical supplies across this country is very complex.
Medicines are made from ingredients sourced from different countries.
Final formulations are then exported. Packaging, repackaging, and sale can happen in many other countries.
We just need better controls that can improve the security and efficiency of the distribution chain. Tracking systems can also improve security by preventing products that leave the main warehouse of being held up or sidetracked.
These solutions can improve the swift delivery as long as the supply chain does not disintegrate at the point closest to the intended designation.
Disorganised distribution process can undermine the regulatory checks on delivery.
Yesterday, Sir Puka witnessed the arrival of 2764 100% medical supply kits that is to be distributed throughout the regions – 771 kits to health centres and 1993 kits to aid posts.
The kits contain essential supplies like – analgesics, anti-infectives, anti-malarials; disinfectants and antiseptics, water purification tablets, bandages, needles and intravenous administration sets.
An allocation of K266 million has been budgeted for medical supplies, procurement and distribution and that means, planning is very important.
The Government since 2013 has taken on board the procurement and distribution of the kits through its procurement system.
This is to avoid the sometimes multiple parallel distribution systems.
The Health Department is satisfied with its distribution coordination tracked through its system that provides full transparency.
While the system is in succession, those in authority must not lose focus of the need for better planning and effective management.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the importance of planning.