BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Central Medical Stores (CMS) has recorded a significant improvement in its product fill rate, reaching 88% during the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (July–September 2025).
According to the Ministry of Health’s 2025/26 Second Quarter Performance Report, this progress means that health facilities across Eswatini are now receiving nearly complete quantities of available medical products. However, despite the achievement, several challenges within the supply chain persist.
The report reveals that while the quantity fill rate improved to 88%, ensuring facilities receive adequate amounts of available commodities, the product fill rate stood at 53%, pointing to ongoing gaps in product availability. Additionally, the delivery rate dropped to 43%, compared to the same period last year, due to logistical and operational bottlenecks.
On a positive note, the stockout rate decreased slightly to 32%, down from 34% in the previous year—though still above the national target of 5%. Tuberculosis (TB) and laboratory commodities were the most affected by shortages.
“These results highlight both progress and persistent challenges across key supply chain indicators,” the Ministry noted, emphasising the need to strengthen human resource capacity, improve procurement and distribution systems, and enhance stock management practices to ensure consistent availability of essential medicines.
The CMS, a department within the Ministry of Health, is mandated to manage the supply chain for all public-sector medicines and health commodities. Its mission is to ensure an uninterrupted and equitable supply of quality medicines and medical supplies to all health facilities in Eswatini.
In line with government reforms, CMS is transitioning into a semi-autonomous entity, a move expected to boost efficiency, accountability, and sustainability. A task team and consultancy firm are overseeing this process, aligning internal operations with the new governance framework.
Among its key achievements this quarter, CMS carried out data verification and mentorship visits to 60 health facilities under various programmes, including ART, TB, Family Planning, Malaria, and Non-Communicable Diseases. The organisation also completed quantification exercises for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, in collaboration with USAID GHSC-PSM and UNFPA.
Further improvements included the introduction of a customer service unit, aimed at strengthening communication and responsiveness to health facility needs; the printing and distribution of LMIS tools to improve reporting and ordering; and the rollout of continuous improvement initiatives, such as real-time stock visibility and order-tracking systems.
Despite operational gains, CMS continues to face challenges such as delayed deliveries, unresolved staff grievances, and limited transport capacity due to vehicle maintenance delays at the Central Transport Administration (CTA).
To address these challenges, the Ministry is prioritising human resource strengthening, fleet management, and IT upgrades, including readiness for integration with the upcoming electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS).
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing reforms, stating that improving CMS performance remains essential to ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines and safeguarding public health.
( Courtesy Pic)
