An audit conducted by the Health Ministry into the drug stock of the 10 regions has unearthed an additional $1.1B in expired items. Making this revelation was the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony.
“These were all expired before we came into government,” the Minister contends.
He added that the ministry was also able to validate the stock that are in possession of the various regions to offer to citizens.
“As of now, in the 10 regions, we have pharmaceuticals worth $5.6B; we have $877M worth in medical supplies; and we have laboratory and diagnostic supplies at $5B, which would approximate to current stock in the regions being about $11.5B.
He added that the government is working to replenish the stock and to dispose of the expired items.
The government recently dumped $10B of expired drugs , unearthed during an audit of the Materials Management Unit (MMU) at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. These items, the government claims, were procured under the previous administration, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNNU+AFC). However, at a press conference held last month, the APNU+AFC Leader, Joseph Harmon, told the nation that those items did not expire under his administration’s watch, but during the past PPP/C’s tenure.
