Director of Health Services, Dr Velephi Okello, says complaints about drug shortages in health facilities are likely to persist, even when deliveries are made, because the health sector operates in “full packages.”
She made these remarks yesterday in Parliament while responding to concerns raised by members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), following site visits to several public health facilities.
Dr Okello explained that healthcare workers might request 10 different medical supplies but receive only eight. This shortfall, she said, disrupts operations as the remaining two supplies are also essential.
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“This is why complaints continue, even though some of the supplies have been delivered,” she said.
She noted that the committee may have found discrepancies in some facilities because deliveries were incomplete or staggered.
Dr Okello further highlighted that even when supplies are delivered in a given month, they are quickly used up before the next batch is released through the Central Medical Stores.
“Even when released, supplies are not always in line with what was requested. Sometimes facilities need drugs that are simply unavailable. We refer to this as the product fill rate,” she said.
The product fill rate, she explained, refers to the proportion of requested items that the ministry is able to deliver. On average, only five to six out of every 10 requested items are fulfilled, meaning some critical drugs are still being procured after running out earlier than anticipated.
Dr Okello said the ministry is now monitoring its stock fill rate more closely and ensuring that every item requested receives a bid during tender processes.
“Some items, like urine catheters, don’t receive any bids and this has been an issue for years,” she said.
She added that the re-tendering process is lengthy, and if there are no bids before the financial year ends, those items remain undelivered. This is why, she explained, the health minister introduced an emergency procurement approach, to allow faster alternative purchasing methods.
“The situation is not ideal for us,” she concluded.
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