Ghana risks not receiving further supplies of essential medical commodities if challenges in clearance of donor commodities at the ports persists.
Executive Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund, Samuel Hackman in an interview with 3news Sarah Apenkroh says the fund will advise itself if these bottlenecks continue.
It’s been months of back and forth regarding the delay in clearing medical supplies at the ports due to outstanding port charges expected to be paid by the government.
These crucial commodities from the Global Fund, aimed at supporting HIV, TB, and Malaria programs, have been sitting at the port since May last year, causing increasing concern, with some Civil Society Organizations threatening to demonstrate.
The Global Fund managers are expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation.
The Executive secretary, Samuel Hackman explained that the current situation is sending a wrong signal.
He said “A lot goes into the process so if there’s a blanket waiver, it will make the clearing of the commodities easier. Ghana needs to up its game and get the structures that we need in place. If there is a blanket waiver, that would have been the best so that by the time these goods come, they are already planned for, for safe passage. If we don’t do that and we cause these commodities to expire, the global fund may advise itself “.
https://3news.com/news/stuck-medicines-at-the-port-to-be-cleared-by-middle-of-april-global-coordinating-mechanism/
He added that the new grant GC7 is giving the country 300 million dollars into the health financing system and if it is treated with this kind of approach, then it will be difficult for them to continue and there will be fatigue.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has assured that the remaining containers will be cleared from the port by Friday, April 12th. Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Isaac Ofei Baah has also assured the general public and the fund managers that the Food and Drugs Authority will be checking the products to ensure their safety for the general public.
Locked up medicines at Tema Port: There is no political will to clear them – Coalition of CSOs
“There have been a number of challenges with regards to the taxes. The issue is to go back to the drawing board and engage the stakeholders. We are fortunate to say that for now, no such drugs coming to Ghana will experience those challenges again. We are assuring that by Friday, those 132 containers left at the port will be cleared. As a Ministry it will not be good for us to bring in drugs that are already having defect so we go with the FDA to ensure that these drugs will not have any effect on the public,” he explained.
The commodities are valued at about $40 million.
By Sarah Apenkroh
