Mozambican SNS lost 285.4 thousand euros due to medicine diversion in six months

The Mozambican National Health System (SNS) recorded estimated losses of 20.8 million meticais (285.4 thousand euros) in the first half of the year due to pharmaceutical discrepancies and diversion, the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (ANARME) announced today. The irregularities were detected during inspection actions in public health facilities and constitute “strong evidence of management deficiencies and potential diversion of medicines from the National Health Service,” leading ANARME to recommend opening five disciplinary proceedings in Zambézia and Maputo provinces, explained institutional spokesperson Cassiano João. “A total of 495 pharmaceutical specialties were inspected, with discrepancies identified in 140 products, representing an estimated value of 20.8 million meticais.

These results constitute strong evidence of management deficiencies and potential diversion of medicines from the National Health Service,” said Cassiano João during a press conference in Maputo. In the private sector, ANARME inspected 580 establishments in the first half of the year—including pharmacies, clinics, health centers, informal markets, importers, and other operators—recording 19 seizure cases and confiscating 24,967 units of SNS-marked medicines and products of unknown origin, valued at approximately 900 thousand meticais (12.3 thousand euros). Seized items included gastrointestinal medications, analgesics, antiretrovirals, erectile dysfunction drugs, weight-loss products, and medical devices.

Following these infractions, five criminal cases were opened for the illegal sale of SNS medicines in the provinces of Sofala, Zambézia, Manica, Nampula, and Maputo City. ANARME also ordered the closure of 17 pharmacies in Gaza and Tete provinces and suspended product imports from international manufacturers for non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The regulatory authority further issued nine health alerts ordering the market withdrawal of medications such as bupivacaine, acetylsalicylic acid, ferrous sulfate, ferrous sulfate with folic acid, multivitamins, and rapid malaria tests following the detection of counterfeit or substandard products.

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Questioned about how these products entered the country, Cassiano João stated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether they were introduced outside official inspection mechanisms managed by ANARME in coordination with Customs authorities. “There is a suspicion of malicious intent on the part of the operator, but we are still going to determine under what circumstances these products were introduced [to the market],” he declared, also confirming that several of the pharmacies closed in Gaza province were selling expired medications. Cassiano João further urged citizens to avoid purchasing medicines from unauthorized vendors and to report instances of illegal sales, arguing that reinforced oversight is essential to protect public health.

The fight against medicine diversion has been framed as a priority by the Mozambican Government. On May 7, the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, called for a “frontal fight” against theft, waste, and corruption within the pharmaceutical supply chain, arguing that these practices weaken the public distribution network. In the first quarter of this year, authorities seized 101,600 medicines diverted from the SNS and detained two individuals, including a health professional, in oversight operations led by ANARME.

In January, Mozambique recovered 5,100 doses of the approximately 844,860 antimalarial treatment courses diverted from the central warehouse in Machava, Maputo province. The Minister of Health has since reiterated a policy of “zero tolerance” toward drug smuggling and medicine theft in health facilities.

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