adminbudget review on Tuesday, Cde Obert Matshalaga, who is the acting chairperson of the portfolio committee on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion, said the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare should pay Natpham.
“The Ministry of Health has consumed almost all the drugs from NatPham to up to US$3,65 million, but it has not paid Natpham,” Cde Matshalaga said.
“We did visit NatPham and we were surprised that the problem was more with Ministries of Health and Finance than with NatPham, so we would urge the stakeholders in this process to ensure that at least 3/5 of the budget is paid at least this year.
“When it was created, it was supposed to be a trading entity but it is so under-capitalised and it is like saying ndava kurumura mwana but you do not give them milk.”
The committee also raised concern that drugs in store at NatPham were mostly those from donors with Government not offering much.
Cde Matshalaga said the room where the drugs are supposed to be kept was leaking and the committee doubted if anything will be salvaged in the event a fire breaks out.
Online Reporter