Health ministry defends emergency malaria drugs procurement
• Emergency procurement protocols activated in the face of rising cases
The health ministry says it activated its emergency procurement protocols to stock up on malaria medicine as soon as possible in the face of rising cases.
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya said as of 20 May, Namibia recorded 76 195 confirmed malaria cases and 132 deaths since the beginning of the current malaria season in December 2024.
Kamaya dismissed AR MP Job Amupanda's claims that the health ministry paid N$450 000 to a middleman for drugs, which cost N$175 000.
Amupanda claimed on social media that investigations they conducted last week show that the government was paying N$1 500 for a pack of 100.
He also said the health ministry had paid N$450 000 for a pack of 300 packs.
According to Amupanda, the middlemen only paid N$580 per pack and got a clean N$275 000.
Full investigation is pending
Kamaya said multiple registered pharmaceutical suppliers were approached, with one asking for N$2 672.80 offered price per week with delivery lead time of 4 weeks.
The second supplier offered N$3 882.42 with a delivery lead time of 4 weeks, while West Pharmaceuticals wanted N$1 500 with a delivery lead time of 1 week.
A fourth supplier wanted N$1 318.91 with a delivery lead time of 4 weeks.
He added that West Pharmaceuticals was selected based on its ability to deliver the required commodities within one week.
Kamaya said the ministry’s urgent request for 300 packs was below the manufacturer’s minimum order quantity of 60 000 packs, making direct procurement impractical.
The spokesperson said the ministry has not paid yet and that a full investigation is pending.
He also said the consignment has been quarantined while the ministry and NamRA verify all import documentation.
Quinine remains second-line treatment
Amupanda also claimed that Quinine 300mg is no longer recommended due to adverse side effects and that the Namibian government continues to procure them despite this.
Kamaya said the procurement of anti-malarial medication comes when the country grapples with a severe malaria outbreak.
“All 10 malaria-endemic regions in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, particularly Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Oshikoto have been affected, with 81% of cases resulting from local transmission,” Kamaya said.
He also said while Artemether-Lumefantrine remains the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, Quinine 300mg tablets remain vital as a second-line treatment.
“These tablets are especially crucial for patients who experience adverse reactions to first-line medications or who fall into vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. "Any suggestion that Quinine is no longer needed is not only misleading but also risks undermining public trust in Namibia's malaria treatment programme,” Kamaya said.
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Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya said as of 20 May, Namibia recorded 76 195 confirmed malaria cases and 132 deaths since the beginning of the current malaria season in December 2024.
Kamaya dismissed AR MP Job Amupanda's claims that the health ministry paid N$450 000 to a middleman for drugs, which cost N$175 000.
Amupanda claimed on social media that investigations they conducted last week show that the government was paying N$1 500 for a pack of 100.
He also said the health ministry had paid N$450 000 for a pack of 300 packs.
According to Amupanda, the middlemen only paid N$580 per pack and got a clean N$275 000.
Full investigation is pending
Kamaya said multiple registered pharmaceutical suppliers were approached, with one asking for N$2 672.80 offered price per week with delivery lead time of 4 weeks.
The second supplier offered N$3 882.42 with a delivery lead time of 4 weeks, while West Pharmaceuticals wanted N$1 500 with a delivery lead time of 1 week.
A fourth supplier wanted N$1 318.91 with a delivery lead time of 4 weeks.
He added that West Pharmaceuticals was selected based on its ability to deliver the required commodities within one week.
Kamaya said the ministry’s urgent request for 300 packs was below the manufacturer’s minimum order quantity of 60 000 packs, making direct procurement impractical.
The spokesperson said the ministry has not paid yet and that a full investigation is pending.
He also said the consignment has been quarantined while the ministry and NamRA verify all import documentation.
Quinine remains second-line treatment
Amupanda also claimed that Quinine 300mg is no longer recommended due to adverse side effects and that the Namibian government continues to procure them despite this.
Kamaya said the procurement of anti-malarial medication comes when the country grapples with a severe malaria outbreak.
“All 10 malaria-endemic regions in the northern and northeastern parts of the country, particularly Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Oshikoto have been affected, with 81% of cases resulting from local transmission,” Kamaya said.
He also said while Artemether-Lumefantrine remains the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, Quinine 300mg tablets remain vital as a second-line treatment.
“These tablets are especially crucial for patients who experience adverse reactions to first-line medications or who fall into vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. "Any suggestion that Quinine is no longer needed is not only misleading but also risks undermining public trust in Namibia's malaria treatment programme,” Kamaya said.
[email protected]
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