Health ministry rejects malaria tender payment claims
Allexer Namundjebo
The Ministry of Health and Social Services says no payments have been made for the procurement of anti-malaria medication, which Job Amupanda criticised on social media.
The ministry released a statement on Tuesday responding to claims made by Amupanda through his investigative platform, Eagle 25.
Amupanda alleged that the government paid N$1,500 per pack for 300 packs of malaria tablets, totalling N$450,000.
He claimed the original supplier charged only R580 (about N$696) per pack.
He questioned the price difference and suggested corruption.
“Assuming the transportation cost was N$50,000, a crazy figure, the middlemen still scored N$225,000 just for this one product,” he wrote.
“This is how rallies of the corrupt are funded, Omupulakeni. This is the method through which the corrupt enrich themselves. I expect someone to start explaining,” he said.
He also claimed the medication involved had side effects and was no longer recommended, but did not name the drug or provide supporting evidence.
In response, the ministry said it followed emergency procurement procedures under Section 33 of the Public Procurement Act, Act No. 15 of 2015, as amended.
The ministry’s office of the executive director said it approached four registered pharmaceutical suppliers, noting that all were able to deliver within four weeks, except for West Pharmaceuticals, which offered to deliver in one week at N$1,500 per pack.
The other suppliers offered prices of N$2,672.80, N$3,882.42, and N$1,318.91 per pack.
“It was selected based on its ability to deliver the required commodities within one week, thereby ensuring continuity of treatment and preventing possible stockouts that could have led to more avoidable deaths,” the ministry stated.
Despite defending the process, the ministry said it has launched a full investigation into the procurement.
“To ensure full accountability and transparency on the matter, the ministry has taken actions, which involve a full investigation,” the statement reads.
The consignment has been quarantined, and the ministry said it is working with the Namibia Revenue Agency to verify all import documents.
The ministry also confirmed that the supplier received no payments.
An internal review is underway to establish long-term procurement systems and improve emergency procurement processes.
The ministry said Amupanda’s claims come at a time when the country is dealing with a serious malaria outbreak.
“While the Artemether-Lumefantrine remains the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, Quinine 300mg tablets continue to play a vital role as a second-line treatment,” the statement reads.
The statement clarified that patients who react to first-line medication or belong to vulnerable groups, like pregnant women, should use the tablets.
“Any suggestion that quinine is no longer needed is not only misleading but also risks undermining public trust in Namibia’s malaria treatment programme,” the ministry said.
Amupanda asked why all the suppliers were not mentioned in the statement. He also questioned how all other suppliers were only able to deliver medicine after four weeks.
“How come everyone is quoted with cents but the middleman is the only one without cents? Would it not be good to see the full names of the so-called others who are only listed as “Supplier 1”, “Supplier 2”?” he wrote on his social media.
