Malawi – Health
Malawi
is in a state of crisis because of the essential medicines that are not
available. The clinics do not have enough workers and the delivery of drug
supplies is the potential life saving treatments. There have been drug
shortages in the recent years. In a recent 2012 report 9% of health facilities
had all the full essential drugs needed for 11 common diseases. They do not
have testing kits, treated mosquito nets or even basic antibiotics. Even
hospitals have run out of 95% of essential medicines. Hospitals have been
trying to buy supplies with money given from private donors and even
families. However, they do not
have enough money to continue to take care of these patients. Patients are reported
of dying from completely treatable diseases. For example, a person died from
diarrhoea which is not usually life threatening. Hospitals are calling out for
help and their calls have not been answered.
Doctors
stated the centralized health delivery system is the culprit of the medicine
shortage. They also state the devaluation of the kwacha is a big factor. In May
2012 President Banda devalued the kwacha by 50%. This increased the price of
basic goods. It is also noted that drug shortages were a problem before the
kwacha was devalued but is worse now. Getting drugs in Malawi is described as a
“tedious and bureaucratic” process. The Central Medical store purchased
medicine in 2009 and these drugs were supposed to last 2 years. The CMS-T
because of the failure of the Central Medical Store then took over. The drug
problem has still not improved.
It
is clearly evident that there is a dire need for reform in Malawi. For Malawi’s
citizens to lose their lives simply because of access to medicine is
ridiculous. The article does a good job describing the different reasons for
the drug shortage. It also talks in the last piece about the different reforms
that are necessary in the country. Even the political officials were
interviewed and realized how unreasonable it is for there to be no access to
medicines. Even if there is a means to pay for the medicine the unpredictable
deliveries make it nearly impossible.
Latina Brooks
February 25, 2013
12:50pm
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