What MSD needs is competition

Mwanza.Health service providers in Mwanza and Geita regions have stressed on the importance of having alternative firms to distribute medical supplies since the Medical Stores Department (MSD), which is undertaking the task, has failed to perform to expectations.

They said continued dependence on the monopoly granted to MSD as the sole distributor of medical supplies to public health facilities is a hindrance to improving service delivery.

During a meeting organised by THAT/AFYA Radio - a Mwanza-based non-governmental organisation implementing maternal health projects in Nyamaga, Ilemela and Geita districts, the participants faulted the way MSD is conducting its activities, claiming it is undermining efforts to strengthen provision of health services.

They said MSD’s failure in the task to deliver needed medical supplies has led to some people accusing nurses and doctors of stealing medicines supplied by MSD.

Karume Health Centre medical in charge Mwanry William, says time has come for another firm to compete with MSD which seems overwhelmed with the load of supplying medicines to dispensaries, health centres and public hospitals.

For his part, acting Ilemela District health officer David Robbi, said the government should take the issue of having another firm to compete with MSD as an urgent matter since it has led to people losing confidence in the State.

“Health facilities should choose who will supply their needs among other suppliers… it is ridiculous to place an order for the same type of medicine repeatedly without getting it supplied. We are talking about people’s lives here,” he said.

Mwanza regional nursing officer Agnes Hassan said the MSD operations have been a long time challenge in provision of better health services since their supplies do not last longer. He says this causes effects to people who need consistency in medical supplies.

“MSD problems have been in existence for a long time as their medical supplies are most of the time of low quality. There is a kit which has been provided for the purpose of preventing transmission of HIV/Aids from mother to child which does not operate as required,” said Mwanza regional medical officer.

Furthermore, the MSD is accused of supplying more or less medicines than ordered, failure to include essential drugs in their consignments sent to health facilities and sometimes giving out supplies which are approaching their expiry date.

Ilemela Dispensary medical in charge Patrick Sende, says that in early December 2013, his medical entity was supplied with a huge number of Amoxyclin capsules which were expected to expire in January 2014.

“It does not make any sense that a doctor can order medicines excluding essential drugs such as paracetamol,“ he wondered.

For his part, the medical in charge of Nzera health centre in Geita District, Dr Bahati Nyamachaguri, said on December 6, 2013, he received medicines from the MSD but there was no quinine in the consignment. According to him, the medicine is essential in the area, considering its geographical position which is close to Lake Victoria where malaria is common.

“In my area, there are a lot of people who are infected with malaria, but as a health facility we were not supplied with quinine. However, the nearby Rwenzera Dispensary was supplied with 100 dozes of it,” said Dr Nyamachaguri. Moreover, it has been established that MSD has failed to supply clinics with cards for pregnant women and children for a period of two years. As a result, some unscrupulous persons have been selling them, even as many expectant mothers and children use exercise books.

Responding to the raised issues, a representative from Mwanza Region MSD office, Matilda Lunyalula, acknowledged that there are some challenges on the availability of medical supplies, adding that the regional office receives consignments from the headquarters in Dar es salaam where many questions raised could be answered. He promised to send all the issues to the relevant authorities.

“Clinic cards for children and pregnant women are a challenge in spite of being provided free of charge. We have ordered them from our headquarters, but it has taken a while for us to receive them,” she said.

“If you come across medical supplies which you did not order, please fill the forms which come with the consignment and your issues will be addressed. We also have not received water for injections but we have a mechanism of rectifying faults. An example is the BP machines which were discovered to be malfunctional... we communicated the problem with the district pharmacist asking them to collect and return it,” she said. In another development, the participants urged the government to pay more than Sh30 billion it owes MSD to enable it to function properly.

Meanwhile, some politicians have been accused of telling their followers not to contribute for health projects as it is the government’s responsibility to provide such services to its people.

In Nyamalimbe Ward, residents from villages under the leadership of opposition parties have refused to contribute to the construction of a dispensary well.

Geita District community development officer Doris Ng’homange said the district management has reports concerning challenges in Nyamalimbe Ward where some politicians have been encouraging their followers not to contribute to any project conducted in their area. The officer also said some residents of the areas have refused to contribute after their previous contributions were misused by their leaders.

A representative from Bakwata, Jumanne Mbaruku, urged the Geita regional commisioner to visit Nyamalimbe Ward and conduct a public rally to educate residents of the area on the importance of contributing their resources towards projects that have been implemented in their areas. The challenges were also reported in Katoro where some politicians have influenced their followers not to contribute to community projects

The Geita District medical officer intervened to stop payment of Sh300 which every pregnant woman who visited the facility paid as contribution for the night watchman’s salary.

In Nyamalimbe, since April 2012, the dispensary has gone without a night watchman after a politician decided that patients visiting the facility should not contribute Sh200 which was meant to pay for security and repairs. Participants wondered how the district hospital has managed to employ security guards who are paid by the district council but the latter refuses to pay for health centres and dispensariesleaving it for the village leadership.