Local drug-makers cry foul

By Florence Magowa:

Some of the country’s pharmaceutical companies have cried foul over delays in signing memoranda of understanding with the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST).

The drug-makers have also bemoaned the influx of imported drugs on the market.

This was disclosed in Blantyre on Monday when Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister, Francis Kasaila, toured Crown Pharmaceuticals and Victoria Pharmaceuticals to appreciate some of the challenges the firms are facing.

Management of the two firms told Kasaila that delays in signing the MoUs have resulted in the companies being unable to supply drugs to the CMST, which buys the drugs on behalf of all government hospitals.

Crown Pharmaceuticals Group Chief Executive Officer, Vijay Kumar, said delays in signing the MoU have greatly affected his firm’s participation in the Buy Malawi Strategy.

“Our main focus is utilising the Buy Malawi Strategy with Central Medical Stores Trust because they are our main buyer. Without the MoU, we are at a stand-still now, products are being produced and just being stored,” Kumar said.

On his part, Victoria Pharmaceuticals Chairperson, Faruk Gani, said his firm has been waiting for the finalisation of the MoU for the past two years.

Kasaila promised that his ministry would look into the matter of MoUs with urgency.