Natpharm gets $7m for drugs

THE National Pharmaceutical Company has received in excess of $7 million since the beginning of the year for procurement of medicines and has floated tenders for the supply of drugs worth over $30 million, Natpharm board chairperson Dr George Washaya has said.

Dr Washaya said the revised funding allocation schedule permitted those buying drugs on behalf of Natpharm to access foreign currency thrice before they are allocated money to buy medicines for the private sector, an arrangement that has boosted supplies in the public sector.

“Initially, suppliers (who buy medicines on behalf of Natpharm) would get foreign currency allocations, but then prioritise supplying the private sector at the expense of the public sector, resulting in continued shortages in our public health institutions,” he said.

“The arrangement has changed, once a tender is granted, suppliers are now getting allocations to procure drugs for the public sector for three consecutive times before they get allocations to procure drugs for the private sector.

“This has gone a long way in boosting our national drug stocks.”

Dr Washaya said since they started receiving allocations from the RBZ, Natpharm had been able to meet at least 50 percent of hospital requirements.

Asked about some delays regarding delivery of medicines into the country, Natpharm’s acting managing director Mr Newman Madzikwa said pharmaceuticals only produced medicines after they had received payment.

“You will find that drugs paid for in April are starting to trickle into the country now because manufacturers only start to produce drugs upon receiving their payment,” he said.