Khartoum: The National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF) has addressed the ongoing debates on social media concerning the medicine crisis in Khartoum State. There have been allegations that the NMSF is deliberately withholding medicines to the detriment of patients, alongside reports of shortages and price hikes for vital items such as Paracetamol solutions in the region’s pharmacies.
According to Sudan News Agency, the NMSF released an official statement to clarify these issues and inform the public about the steps being taken. The NMSF highlighted that it is responsible for managing the national medicine supply system across Sudan, distributing medicines to its state branches, which then deliver them to patients in line with national health policies focused on decentralized distribution.
Khartoum State relies on the Circular Drug Fund for medicine provision and distribution in its health facilities. This body operates independently from the NMSF, and thus, the responsibility for medicine supply to government hospitals in Khartoum rests solely with the Circular Drug Fund.
Before the conflict arose, the NMSF coordinated with the Federal Ministry of Health and Khartoum State’s government to align pharmaceutical services with the national health policy. This led to a partnership with the Circular Drug Fund, transferring management of state pharmacies to this entity.
In efforts to streamline the system, the governor of Khartoum State implemented reforms to centralize bulk medicine purchasing and reduce costs, with the Circular Drug Fund taking charge of service delivery. This initiative received support from both the Federal Minister of Health and the governor, who are committed to integrating the Circular Drug Fund into the NMSF system.
The unified supply system aims to stabilize medicine availability, reduce costs, and rebuild public trust in health institutions. Ensuring medicine accessibility is viewed as a responsibility beyond profit, requiring community cooperation and institutional dedication to resolve the crisis.