The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched its Systems and Processes Review Report on ‘Strengthening Integrity in the Management of Drugs and other Medical and Related Services in Government Medical Facilities’.

The launching took place on Tuesday 29^th January 2019 at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall in Freetown.

Some of the key findings of the report point to huge problems in the supply chain management of drugs in the country, stating that there has been no procurement and supply of cost recovery drugs by the Central Medical Stores.

Ten vehicles assigned to the Central Medical Stores were missing, and a huge quantity of drugs supplied to health facilities across the country between 2016 and 2017 were unaccounted for, the report states.

 It adds that there is no monitoring of drugs supplied to hospitals and other health facilities across the country, and that physical verification of deliveries to stores is also lacking.

It also highlights the lack of policy on the allocation of fuel to staff, the absence of a fixed assets register and coding system.

Speaking at the ceremony, the ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., said that the country has been grappling with the challenges of providing proper medical services for its citizens, expressing the need for all stakeholders to work to change the grim health statistics of the country.

He said the Commission is aware of the challenges faced by the Ministry of Health, but noted that the Ministry should take ownership of the report and ensure the implementation of its recommendations.

The Deputy Commissioner of ACC Shollay Davies said the work of the ACC is not just limited to investigations, adding that the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 gives the Commission the mandate to strengthen systems and processes in public institutions.

He encouraged the Ministry of Health and the Central Medical Store to show goodwill in addressing the challenges facing the management of drugs in the country.

The Chief Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health Jack Lansana said the Ministry is appreciative of the work of the ACC and that they have already started implementing some of the recommendations contained in the report.

The report was formally launched by the ACC Commissioner and the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr Anthony Augustine Sandi.