The Ministry for Health said that it had completed its own internal report entitled “Strategic Plan for the Management of Government Medical Supplies (Procurement, Storage and Distribution)”, back in April 2013.

It issued a statement referring to the Ombudsman’s press conference on Friday 2 August, during which the Commissioner for Health, Charles Messina’s own initiative report entitled “Out of Stock Medicines, Medical Materials and Surgical Devices within the Government Sector” was presented to the members of the press.

This report analyzes and addresses the shortfalls of the present system and makes proposals towards a solution. These include the restructuring of the procurement system that purchases, monitors consumption, and ensures stability of supplies of good quality stock at cost-effective prices. The report also emphasises the urgent need for business solutions and an e-Health platform to implement accountability and transparency.

The mentioned report also has amongst several objectives;

·         The identification of the factors leading to out-of-stock medicine;

·         The centralisation of the present physical dispersal of stores and human resources;

·         The splitting up of the current budget in two streams, in order to cater separately for medicines and for equipment;

·         The establishment of realistic estimates of demand and supply for the various items;

·         The fostering of efficient communication between the various entities related to procurement, storage and distribution;

·         The implementation of IT systems related to pharmaceutical services within an inter-operable e-Health framework.

As a consequence of this report, the Ministry for Health commissioned an autonomous audit by RSM Malta Consulting Ltd. This report entitled “Review of the Procurement and Inventory Processes”, focuses on a review of the procurement and inventory processes with respect to the medical supplies and pharmaceuticals at the Ministry for Health, with a view to determine if these are adequately controlled and if they can be made more efficient and effective within the limits and constraints of the existing resources and tools.

At present the Ministry for Health is engaged in an internal discussion with all concerned and at all levels of management, which will also include public consultation, to implement short, medium and long term changes.

The Ministry for Health had also commented on this report, which comments can be found starting from page 51 in the report published last Friday.