A MINISTRY of Health audit of accounts for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 has revealed that drugs and medical supplies costing over K166 million reported to have been dispatched from Medical Stores Limited to 23 health stations did not reach the destinations as at April 30, 2021.

The report has also revealed that Lewanika General Hospital in Mongu received 189,300 medical kits from Medical Stores after their expiry date, and a physical inspection found that 60,000 Vacuum red top blood collection tubes of medical supplies were still in stock at the Laboratory while 129,300 ​had been issued to blood bank and used despite being expired.

Meanwhile, the report has revealed that various drugs and medical supplies costing over K40 million received from Medical Stores Limited had not been accounted for.

This is according to an interim management letter on the audit of accounts for the Ministry of Health, Provincial and District health offices and other health institutions, signed by Auditor General, Dr Dick Sichembe.

The audit revealed that contrary to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency Act, No. 9 of 2019 which states the functions of Medical Stores Ltd, drugs and medical supplies costing K166,686,080 reported to have been dispatched from Medical Stores Limited to 23 stations during the period under review had not been received as at April 30, 2021.

The affected health stations of the undelivered drugs include; Chinsali General Hospital, Nakonde and Mumbwa District Hospitals, Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, Mazabuka General Hospital, Kawambwa District Hospital, Lewanika General Hospital, Levy Mwanawasa Hospital, Matero 1st Level Hospital, among others.

The report revealed that the risk of the same was insufficient drugs for patients, and further recommended that the matter must be investigated and findings availed for audit.

And the report has revealed that Lewanika General Hospital received 189,300 Vacuum red top blood collection tubes from Medical Stores Limited with expiry dates of March and July 2020 were dispatched in July and November 2020 respectively.

The report further revealed that a scrutiny of stock records and drug labels maintained at four Health stations revealed that drugs costing K716,971 had expired during the period January 2020 to April 2021.

“Lewanika General Hospital received 189,300 Vacuum red top blood collection tubes of medical supplies from Medical Stores Limited valued at K300,987 with expiry dates of March and July 2020 were dispatched in July and November 2020 respectively. Inquiries and physical inspection carried out in April 2021 revealed that 60,000 tubes were still in stores at the Laboratory and 129,300 of the consignment had been issued to blood bank and being used despite being expired,” the report read.

“A scrutiny of stock records and drug labels maintained at four Health stations revealed that drugs costing K716,971 had expired during the period January 2020 to April 2021. Levy Mwanawasa Hospital K31,440, Chongwe DHO K4,589, Chirundu DHO K4,248, Nakonde DHO K676,694.”

The report disclosed that as at April 30, 2021, no action had been taken by management to dispose of the expired drugs which were considered a hazard to patients.

The report also revealed that during the period under review, Medical Stores Limited delivered drugs and medical supplies costing K4,558, 804 to seven stations but the drugs and medical supplies delivered were rejected by the stations due to short shelf life and others were recalled by ZAMRA.

“During the period under review, Medical Stores Limited delivered drugs and medical supplies costing K4,558, 804 to seven stations. However, the drugs and medical supplies delivered were rejected by the stations due to short shelf life and others were recalled by Zambia Medicine Regulation Authority (ZAMRA) due to non compliance with the required standard. As at 30th April 2021 the rejected and recalled drugs and medical supplies had not been replaced by Medical Stores Limited, thereby depriving the stations of the required drugs and medical supplies,” read the report.

“During the period under review, Medical Stores Limited delivered drugs and medical supplies costing K7,923,919 to three Institutions that were not ordered.”

The report further revealed that various drugs and medical supplies costing K40,959,531 received from Medical Stores Limited had not been accounted for.

“Public Stores Regulations No. 16, states that every stores officer or any other officer having in his charge any public stores or other articles of public property must keep and maintain records of the receipt and issue of such public stores. Contrary to the regulation, various drugs and medical supplies costing K40,959,531 received from Medical Stores Limited had not been accounted for in that there were no disposal details such as stock control cards and supply vouchers to show how and where the supplies were used by health institutions,” the report read further.

“Unaccounted for drugs and medical supplies; Levy Mwanawasa Hospital K20, 205,208, Matero 1st Level Hospital K7,476,699, Chinsali General Hospital K5,858,872 (among others). Risk: The drugs and medical supplies may not have been used for the intended purpose. Recommendation: The drugs and medical supplies must be accounted for.

According to Ministry of Health sources, the Auditor General has given them 15 days in which to give specific responses to the audit queries raised.