Mozambique receives medicines with screening system

O minister of Mozambican Health, Ussene Isse, explained that products come to be identified by a stamp and accompanied along the supply chain, allowing to know where they went, where they were sent and where they are, reinforcing control over their use in sanitary units.

“One of the biggest reforms” of the Mozambique Health System, said Ussene Isse, during the delivery ceremony in Maputo, in a reference to the national traceability system announced by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo in 2025.

The system makes it possible to consult the route of the products from the codes assigned to boxes and pallets, including the entrances and exits of warehouses and the destination of consignments. In this way, when entering the code of a particular product, the responsible persons can check the registered history and location, from the entry into the system to the unit to which it was sent.

Ussene Isse called on health unit managers, nursing heads and clinical guardians to strengthen surveillance on the products received, arguing that control should continue after delivery and monitor the use of medicines and materials in health units.

“ We need to be very attentive with surveillance, supervision, supervision, inspection,” the minister said, adding that “each medicine is accounted for, each glove used is accounted for”, in an orientation directed to those responsible for managing the resources in the sanitary units.

The measure arises in a context of the Government's concern for theft, diversion, waste and other irregularities in the supply chain for medicines. On September 9, Ussene Isse revealed that at least 54 health professionals were expelled last year for bad practices and promised “hard hand” and “zero tolerance” against situations such as illicit charges, poor care and drug theft.

In May, the minister had already advocated a “frontal fight” against theft, waste and corruption in the drug supply chain, considering that these practices weaken the distribution of medicines in the public health system.

In July 2025, Daniel Chapo announced the beginning of the official implementation of the national system for traceability of medicines and health products, through a mechanism to accompany products from manufacturing to the patient. The initiative has become part of government measures.

At today's ceremony, the director of the World Bank division for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Cameroon and Seychelles, Fily Sissoko, stressed that the availability of medicines should be accompanied by mechanisms to verify whether the products actually reach the recipients.

“ Availability without accountability is not enough,” Sissako said, arguing that the tracking system should contribute to identifying earlier reserves disruptions, reducing losses, improving distribution and accountability for different actors in the supply chain.

The World Bank's support includes the acquisition of medicines and medical-surgical equipment in an investment of US$35 million (EUR 30,3 million) by international partners, while the Government envisages the arrival of new shipments and progressive distribution by Community health units and posts in an attempt to strengthen the availability of products and improve the population's access to health care.