KING OPENS E77.5M MEDICAL STORES

MATSAPHA – His Majesty King Mswati III has opened a E77.5 million Central Medical Store (CMS) and wants industries producing pharmaceutical products in the country.

The King officially opened 14 000 square metres CMS in Matsapha yesterday.
The Government of Eswatini contributed E47.5 million while Global Fund forked out E30 million towards the construction of the warehouse, which will benefit 387 health facilities in the country.

When highlighting what led to the construction of the warehouse, the King said previously, government was running four large central warehouses, three parallel warehouse systems, central medical stores for general essential and supplies, another warehouse for HIV/AIDS therapy products, the national laboratory and the national vaccine warehouse.

He said these warehouses were running different storage and distribution systems, which was a challenge in the management of drugs in the country.

In order to address this shortcoming, the partnership of the Government of Eswatini and Global Fund, who through health system strengthening, HIV, TB and malaria grant, produced this refurbished warehouse.

Diagnostics

“This has created a ‘one stop shop’ for all health commodities; medicines, laboratory, medical supplies, malaria supplies and other related diagnostics.”

He said the maintenance of good quality storage had been realised since all products were now stored under one roof.
His Majesty said the facility had also assisted in the distribution of laboratory commodities, which had no dedicated transport system in the past.

He said the personnel responsible for health commodities storage and distribution were now being shared under one warehouse, unlike before where they worked in different stations.
Further, His Majesty said this would also give the personnel an opportunity to up-skill themselves and specialise in the various operations of the central medical stores.

“This is a huge positive spin-off on customer service, facility and patients.”
He added that the installation of the electronic inventory management system would without doubt enhance record keeping of medicines.

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