Malawi faces imminent exhaustion of tuberculosis drug stocks by the end of September. WHO reported a 40% reduction in TB cases over the past decade and high treatment success with fewer deaths. Disruption in the global supply of pharmaceutical ingredients and declining international aid have hindered procurement of first-line TB medicines. Newly diagnosed patients may be denied standard drug regimens. Some hospitals are borrowing stock and rationing doses. Blantyre district reported zero RHZE stock and halted diagnostic cartridge testing. Rumphi district estimates roughly one month of supplies remain, risking reversal of recent TB gains.
Malawi is facing a critical shortage of tuberculosis drugs, with health officials warning that stocks will run out by the end of September. It comes just months after the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that the country had successfully reduced tuberculosis (TB) cases by 40% over the past decade. In March, the WHO's country representative, Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, announced that Malawi had also seen a high rate of success in treating TB and a significant reduction in the number of deaths.
We registered zero stock of the TB drug at our district pharmacy, especially the RHZE, which is the main drug used in the initial phase of treatment. To save our patients, we had to run up and down and borrow from other facilities to ensure we have something to give to our patients. We have scaled down on the dose ration given to the patients,
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