Mozambique: Nine managers dismissed at Central de Medicamentos

A reshuffle is underway at the Central de Medicamentos e Artigos Médicos (CMAM), where the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, has just dismissed nine managers in order to “inject greater dynamism into the execution of activities”. The shortage of medicines and medical supplies in healthcare facilities has become a constant topic of discussion in recent days, to the point that user dissatisfaction has reached the ears of the sector minister. Recently, Jornal Domingo reported on the case at José Macamo General Hospital, where pregnant women are asked to present themselves at the maternity ward with gloves to support healthcare professionals.

The situation at José Macamo Hospital also applies to the hospitals in Chamanculo, Manhiça, Morrumbala and Mogovolas At Manhiça District Hospital, it has also become public knowledge that there is a shortage of medical supplies, including soap, which has affected the functioning of the operating theatre. There have also been cases of theft of medicines exclusive to the National Health Service and their subsequent sale on the informal market. The most recent episode involved the mysterious disappearance of 864,000 antimalarials from the Matola warehouse in Maputo province.

Additionally, significant quantities of medicines expire in one area, while in other warehouses across the country they do not even arrive. It is in this context that the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, decided to terminate the functions of several management and leadership staff at the Central Medicine and Medical Supplies Store, aiming to strengthen efficiency, transparency, and control over the procurement, storage, and distribution chain. The new leaders of the institution are expected to be announced in the coming days, once a selection process is completed that will observe criteria of merit, technical competence, and professional integrity, with the aim of renewing and strengthening the institution’s management capacity.

[paywall]

The “shake-up” did not affect CMAM’s Director-General, Noémia Escrivão, who remains in office, ensuring the coordination of the institution’s activities with interim teams. Jornal Domingo understands that several experienced personnel in medicine management have already been selected and appointed to ensure the implementation of the presidential formula: “do things differently to achieve different results”. As was appropriate, Jornal Domingo asked Minister Ussene Isse about the scope of the changes at CMAM, and he admitted that there is evidence the sector is not functioning properly.

If we want to change the scenario, we cannot keep these people. “Medicine management is a vital service for the country, and at the moment it is inefficient. We want to improve; we have to change the system.

We are not persecuting anyone; we are simply putting in a new team to improve. Our goal is to ensure quality medicines for all.,” he detailed: “We want to improve the entire medicine logistics chain in the country. From procurement, production, distribution, to security… We are setting up a different structure, with competent staff in the area.

We want better management and control. This unit is vital. We want to achieve our goal, which is quality medicines for all.”

[/paywall]