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The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has availed a further US$3,3 million towards procurement of drugs bringing the total disbursement in the past two weeks to US$9,9million.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said the latest disbursement is earmarked for both private and public sector pharmacies as well as the manufacturing sector.

“As we continue on the path to normalisation of the health service, the Ministry further advises players in the health sector that Government is committed to resourcing the industry and the RBZ has in response released a further US$3,3million cash to the pharmaceutical industry and other health institutions,” said the ministry in a statement.

The Ministry said the release of the foreign currency is expected to assist in normalising the health service.

“As was agreed with various stakeholder representatives, the health sector would embark on the normalisation process and revert back to the status quo through accepting different forms of payment for services, service providers accepting medical aid cards, medical aid societies timely meeting reimbursements for prescriptions and upholding the value of RTGS:US$ at 1:1,” the Ministry said.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Portifa Mwendera said following the latest disbursement of US$3,3 million, supplies were expected to improve soon.

He however said this will be for a short period since the amounts released so far were too little to meet national demand.

Mr Mwendera said the pharmaceutical sector alone requires US$2 million a week. He said the retail pharmacies were allocated US$1 million for importation of medicines and were going to prioritise medicines for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Natpharm company was allocated US$1,5 million to procure drugs for the public sector while the remaining allocation went to the local pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Most private pharmacies are still demanding payments in US dollars despite Government’s efforts to ensure that they have the required forex to enable them to buy the drugs.

We are very cognisant of the fact that what is being allocated is too little to meet demand but while this is being addressed, pharmacies should make drugs and medicines accessible to the sick.

Those operating pharmacies, we want to believe, are committed to saving lives and as such we expect them to be sensitive to the plight of the sick.

Demanding payment in US dollars is as good as condemning the sick to death because most of them do not have the forex.

Government has urged pharmacies to accept medical aid cards as well as the different forms of payments which include bond notes and electronic transfers.

We want at this juncture to appeal to the pharmacies to use the little resources at their disposal to save lives while the issue of forex shortage is being addressed.