-Despite $USD14Million worth of drugs donated last year
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The United States Agency for International Development in Liberia has expressed the disappointment of the United States government over the lack of medications in public health facilities across Liberia.
Speaking Thursday, April 11, 2024 at the Launch of the Campaign to Improve the Supply Chain for Donated Medicines in Liberia, the United States Agency for International Development – USAID/Liberia Mission Director, Jim Wright recorded that last year, life-saving medicines and other medical supplies worth 14 million US dollars were donated to the people of Liberia, by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The national-level campaign aimed at improving access to medicine for the people of Liberia, organized by USAID’s CSA and CSO Health Coalitio. It was held at Bella Cassa Hotel in Sinkor.
Jim Wright stated that the donation of these essential health products is significantly reduce preventable deaths and severe illness due to diseases that can be treated or cured.
They are a vital tool in the USAID partnership with the Ministry of Health to eliminate deadly diseases in Liberia. He added that they are free of charge enough testing and treatment products to diagnose and treat every citizen who contracts HIV or malaria. He said taxes paid by Americans and citizens of other countries are used so that Liberians may have the medicine they need.
However, he alleged that due to theft, fraud and mismanagement, those donated health commodities often fail to reach the people who need them the most. He said that all fifteen counties in Liberia, exist empty dispensary shelves in public health facilities across the nation. Therefore, described it as a serious problem.
“Unfortunately, due to theft, fraud and mismanagement, these donated health commodities often fail to reach the people who need them the most. I have traveled to all fifteen counties in Liberia, and I have seen empty dispensary shelves in public health facilities across the nation. This is a serious problem.”
At the same time, he asserted that while critical medicine is often lacking in public health facilities, the same items can easily be found in private pharmacies. He revealed that an assessment last year showed that over 90% of the pharmacies in Liberia sell stolen medicine. In his opinion, the report suggests that medicine is only available to patients that have enough money to buy, while patients who do not have enough money are left to suffer.
“While critical medicine is often lacking in public health facilities, the same items can easily be found in private pharmacies. In fact, an assessment last year showed that well over 90% of the pharmacies in Liberia sell stolen medicine. That is unacceptable. That means that medicine is only available to patients that have enough money to buy them. Patients that don’t have enough money are left to suffer. This is unfair and immoral.”
However, the USAID/Liberia Mission Director provided that the USAID committed to ending corruption and mismanagement within the public health supply chain for donated medications and putting a stop to drug stock-outs.
Meanwhile, he stated that the USAID cannot do it alone. He said the need for partnerships are the key to overcoming the challenges that every stakeholder has a role to play.
“USAID is committed to ending corruption and mismanagement within the public health supply chain for donated medications and putting a stop to drug stockouts. But we cannot do it alone. Partnerships are the key to overcoming these challenges and every stakeholder in this room has a role to play.
The Civil Society Health Coalition is already identifying where the problems are and helping us understand what we need to do to improve the supply chain system. We are proud to support these efforts through USAID’s Civil Society Activity.”
At the same time, he lauded the extraordinary Liberian organizations that form the Coalition, the Community Health Education and Social Services , Efficient Research and Development Institute, Humanity Above One-Self Foundation, Public Health Initiative Liberia, Volunteers United for Development, and
the Youth Network for Positive Change for their tirelessly to monitor distributions, resolve issues, advocate for system improvements, and raise awareness that donated medicines are free and should not be sold.
In furtherance, Jim Wright called upon the Government of Liberia at all levels to support and complement the Coalition’s work.
Adding that in order for these dedicated civil society organizations to succeed, they need access to healthcare facilities, county-level officials, and national level officials. He added that the Government of Liberia will also benefit from constructive partnerships with the Coalition.
He further admonished the government of Liberia to work with civil society as an ally in the effort to expedite the last-mile distribution of donated health products to public health facilities, which is critical to ending drug stockouts.
In conclusion, he asserted that to make a meaningful and sustainable impact on reducing fraud, the Government of Liberia must also assume more responsibility for ensuring accountability.
Recording that the recent indictment of former members of the Margibi County Health Team and other complicit parties for corruption is a step in the right direction. He stated that the next important step is prosecution. And if the accused are found guilty, they must be punished in accordance with the law in order to discourage others from corrupt practices.
At the same time, he encouraged the new Minister of Justice to move forward with investigations that target the wider networks responsible for stealing donated medicines from the people of Liberia and selling them for a profit.
Wright holds the belief that continued corruption and supply chain mismanagement threaten the ability of USAID and other international partners to be able to provide vital health products. We must all do our part to improve the integrity and performance of the medical supply chain system.
