The government announced on Tuesday, June 2, during a Council of Ministers meeting, that an investigation has been opened to examine reports of alleged circulation of expired medicines in health units across the country.
According to the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, the authorities became aware of the situation through information circulating on social media and public statements that raised concerns about the safety of medicines being provided to the population.
The minister said the Ministry of Health (MISAU) immediately created a technical team tasked with conducting a thorough investigation to determine the veracity of the claims and identify any possible responsible parties.
“We became aware of the situation through social media and internally set up a commission to investigate and establish the facts. There is a reported situation in the district of Chigubo, in Gaza province, and a team is already on the ground working,” he said.
Isse assured that current laws and regulations prohibit the sale or distribution of expired medicines, stressing that pharmaceutical professionals are under clear instructions to prevent such products from reaching patients. “Given that this is recent information, the health sector is focusing on collecting data and evidence that will allow the case to be clarified with rigor and transparency. We must verify the facts in order to provide the Mozambican people with a truthful answer,” he stated.
He also assured that, if irregular practices are confirmed, the Ministry of Health will proceed with disciplinary and legal action against those responsible.
In recent years, the National Health System has faced periods of pressure caused by staff strikes, first called by the Mozambican Medical Association (AMM) and later by APSUSM, which represents around 65,000 health professionals across different categories, mainly demanding improved working conditions.
The country has a total of 1,778 health units, including 107 health posts, three specialized hospitals, four central hospitals, seven general hospitals, seven provincial hospitals, 22 rural hospitals, and 47 district hospitals, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.
Source: Diário Económico
