E200 million worth of expired drugs to be destroyed

By Bahle Gama

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members were left baffled after discovering that there is E200 million worth of expired drugs at the Central Medical Stores (CMS) which must be destroyed.

This follows the surprise visit to the Central Medical Stores (CMS) last Friday and with the findings made, PAC Chairman Madala Mhlanga says the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should not wait for their report and get to work, with immediate effect.

In a phone interview, Mhlanga said this was in relation to the findings of the expired drugs at the Central Medical Stores (CMS) during the PAC’s visit on Friday, June 5, 2024.

He said that it was heartbreaking and worrisome that such an amount of drugs had to be destroyed when emaSwati have been and continue to be in need of medication from the respective health care centres countrywide.

ALSO READ: Expect frequent heat-related complications – Ministry of Health

“The AG’s report for 2021/2022 spoke about E81 million worth of drugs to have expired, but we were baffled to find that drugs close to E200 million must be destroyed because they have expired. This is worrisome and requires that something be done as soon as possible,” he said.

Mhlanga said the police and ACC were urged not to wait for the PAC to conclude and submit its report and recommendations.

The reason is that the PAC must report to the House of Assembly its findings whilst working with the AG’s office.

On Friday, the PAC embarked on a surprise visit to the CMS warehouse in Matsapha where different discoveries were made in relation to the drug conundrum faced by the country through the Ministry of Health.

A high volume of expired drugs dating back to 2015 were found at the facility, still stored despite them being unfit for patient consumption.

Mhlanga disclosed that among these drugs were others purchased for the Covid-19 pandemic for a trial run worth about E9 million.

However, they met their expiry date before they could be used because the doctors or medical practitioners had to get approval first.

He expressed his worry over the drugs that were found lying idle in open space, causing a cause for concern to staff, further raising the question as to why the drugs have been kept for such a duration instead of being disposed of.

Mhlanga stated that a request was made to the PS to quickly get rid of the drugs in open space exposed to that staff that could likely cause harm, internally or externally.

“Our main concern was whether these drugs expired before they could be used, or it was a matter of them being supplied closer to their expiry date, all of which must be thoroughly investigated, because if it is a supplier issue, then it must be resolved,” Mhlanga said.

The Chairman further stated that this paints a bad picture for the country because some of these drugs are requested and received through donations, only to be kept until expiry.

ALSO READ: Ministry recalls folic acid, phenoxymethylpenicillin batches

He said if the stakeholders that provide funding to purchase medication or buy the drugs for the country see such news and the number of drugs being destroyed by the country, it will give them the idea that there never was a need for such.

“This will put us in a position wherein we won’t be able to make any requests in future when we are in dire need of drugs,” said Mhlanga.

He emphasised that the Speech from the Throne gave everyone in government direction towards fighting corruption, hence the PAC’s existence.

Madala said the judiciary and cabinet must take its place and get to work, and “that is why we urge the Prime Minister to work closely on the Ministry of Health situation.”

“The PAC will make recommendations that where there has been criminal activity people get arrested and the appropriate routes are taken,” he said.

He further stated that more surprise visits are set to be made even in health facilities.

This is with the intent to check whether the drugs being transported from the CMS are delivered as per the reports being made.

To ensure that emaSwati receive the medication they need timely before the drugs expire on the CMS

PAC to investigate recalling of folic acid, Phenoxymethylpenicillin batches

PAC Chairman Madala Mhlanga says they are going to probe into the recalling of two batches of Folic acid 5mg tablets and Phenoxymethylpenicillin oral solution 125mg/5mg.

On Saturday, June 29, 2024, the Ministry of Health issued a statement reporting that there had been a discovery of black spots on Folic acid tablets from batch #003254, while penicillin had different strengths in labelling for batch #223131144. Folic acid is a supplement, and penicillin is an antibiotic.

Minister Mduduzi Matsebula clarified that it was not an issue of expired drugs as the batch of Folic acid expires in February 2025, and the Phenoxy methyl penicillin expires in January 2025.

The PAC Chairman said such should not have happened, to begin with.

“We must find out how these drugs made it to the public and emaSwati had to return them when there are bodies responsible for being on the lookout for such things.

This discovery should have been made before the distribution was made after a thorough assessment,” Mhlanga said.

ALSO READ: 12mln of expired drugs to be destroyed

Folic acid tablets are commonly used by pregnant women as they prevent and treat low levels of Vitamin B9 in one’s body. They also help form red blood cells, maintain brain health, and support a healthy pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Phenoxy methyl penicillin oral solution is used to treat bacterial infections, including ear, chest, throat, and skin infections.

It can also be used to prevent infections if one has sickle cell disease, or has had chorea (a movement disorder), rheumatic fever, or their spleen removed. Phenoxymethylpenicillin is only available on prescription.

In the statement, Minister Matsebula said the matter was being handled with high priority, and the public was urged not to panic.

“The national recall is a precautionary measure recommended by the Medicines Regulatory Unit (MRU), a Unit under the Ministry of Health. The recall is in the best interest of the public and is meant to protect the consumers while an investigation is ongoing,” he said.

He further stated that this is a process of quality control done to ensure that medication used by the public is safe and efficacious. It is batch-specific, meaning that only Folic acid from batch #003254 and Phenoxy methyl penicillin from batch #223131144 are affected. 

Matsebula said that other batches or similar products are not affected. All public health facilities had been contacted and informed of the recall of the products and further advised to remove the affected products from the shelves in pharmacies. 

The Ministry also informed healthcare professionals to stop dispensing the tablets and syrup of the affected batches, immediately. 

The public health facilities were also advised to quarantine all remaining stock of the affected medicine and return it to the Central Medical Stores (CMS) through the approved processes.