Hospitals divert drug money to buy gloves

Public health facilities in Malawi have been forced to use money meant for drugs to buy medical gloves following a stockout at Central Medical Stores (CMS), Parliament has heard.

Leader of the House Jappie Mhango disclosed this in his adjournment statement on Friday, saying the shortage had forced health facilities to procure gloves from the open market using their drug budgets.

“Acute shortage of hand gloves in public health facilities following a stockout at the Central Medical Stores (CMS), forcing facilities to procure the gloves from the open market using their drug budgets,” Mhango said.

The issue was raised as a Matter of Urgent Public Importance during the Third Meeting of the 52nd Session of Parliament.

The development means some public health facilities have had to make difficult choices between purchasing medicines and obtaining basic protective equipment required by health workers.

Mhango said the glove shortage was among several urgent public concerns considered by Parliament during the sitting, which concluded on Friday after being extended from the originally planned closing date.