Gov’t to reconstruct Central Medical Stores by end of 2020 – Health Minister

Government has announced the reconstruction of the Central Medical Stores which was gutted by fire in 2015.

The tragedy did not only manifest in the loss of property but also severely disrupted basic medical supplies to neighbouring countries.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Korle- Bu Maternity and Urology and Nephrology Centres, Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said the facility will be reconstructed before the end of this year in addition to other health infrastructure.

“We have also aligned the construction and equipping of some hospitals before the end of the year. The sub-regional hospital in Tema, the reconstruction of the central medical stores, construction and equipping of Shama district hospitals, construction and equipping of trauma hospitals in Anyinam and Obuasi. Refurbishment and equipping of Ngleshie and Obuasi hospitals again”, he said.

In August 2019, it emerged that authorities at the Central Medical Stores spent GHc300,000 of drug funds on payment of rent for the temporary Central Medical Stores at Spintex.

This was after a report by the Auditor-General on alleged misapplication of drug funds contrary to Regulation 179 of Financial Administration Regulations, 2004.

The report stated that the amount was paid to P.S.B Realty Company Limited in March 2017.

The Central Medical Stores earlier sited at Tema and contained every conceivable drug imported into the country before onward distribution to the various regions was razed by fire on January 13, 2015.

Ghana’s stock of medical supplies that were lost after the fire was estimated at GHc237 million.

The Global Fund later forgave Ghana after its $27 million worth of medical supplies it gave Ghana was lost in the central medical stores’ fire.

Speaking at the Meet the Press Series in Accra on May 2019, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu said the Global Fund had pardoned the country after it was discovered that health commodities worth $27 million belonging to them were affected.

Per the agreement, Ghana had to refund the amount but the Minister said the donors knowing very well that Ghana does not have the financial strength to pay back the money had decided to let it go.