Government hopes that the transformed medical stores will be operational by April 1, 2026, where all patients will be able to get prescribed medication from government facilities.
Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula said the ultimate goal of the transformation of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) to a semi-autonomous institution was aimed at restoring trust in the health system by ensuring that every healthcare worker has what they need to serve, and every citizen has what they need to heal.
The minister said this when addressing members of the House of Assembly health portfolio committee who attended a consultative meeting where they were updated about progress made based on the blueprint for the CMS transformation. The meeting was held at Hilton Garden Inn last Thursday.
PICMA (Partnership for Improving Supply Chain Management in Africa) is spearheading the transformation.
Matsebula said since their appointment in November last year, PICMA has conducted wide-ranging assessments of the country’s supply chain, examining everything from procurement and forecasting to infrastructure and information systems.
They then used their findings to develop the blueprint, which is a strategic and operational guide towards achieving the vision of a semi- autonomous, world-class CMS. Matsebula said the blueprint includes the process and activities towards having a legislation that will mark a critical point in the ministry’s transformation plan for the CMS. According to a transformation timeline that was presented by PICMA, the draft Bill for the CMS transformation is yet to be presented to Cabinet, while it is expected to be tabled in Parliament for debate and approval between July and September.
When making his presentation, PICMA Managing Partner Clinton De Souza said in the new organisation, the workforce would have their job descriptions clearly outlined and what was expected from each of them. This, he said, was everyone in the workforce, from the top of the hierarchy to the ones at the bottom level to be accountable.
De Souza said to ensure continuous supply of medical supplies, there will be a prequalification of suppliers to ensure competition and quality. He said selected suppliers’ performance would be tracked using key performance indicators such as their ability to deliver, the cost and quality of their medication, as well as compliance. The good thing about this system is that underperformers will either be managed or replaced based on evaluations.
After the transformation, De Souza said the CMS should be able to run like a private sector business, meaning it should be able to make enough money to sustain itself without solely relying on government subvention. However, he mentioned at first, the organisation will need financial support from government until it is stable enough to generate its own money.
To assure the nation, Minister Matsebula said until the organisation is transformed, government will continue working on ensuring that the nation has access to quality healthcare. “Our work does not pause. PICMA will continue supporting the current CMS leadership to strengthen critical operations and respond to the on-going drug crisis. This interim work is not a stopgap; it is a bridge to the future we are building,” stated Matsebula.
