A container holding medicines nearing expiry has been found by the Ministry of Health’s National Commission for Receipt and Inspection (RNI).
The container was one of 19 imported by Kimia Farma.
RNI representative Saturnina Ximenes said the container was rejected as the contract with Kimia Farma states all medicines imported must be at least two years out from expiry.
The Health Ministry would return the container, she said.
Ximenes said quick inspections were difficult due to the quantity of medicines received.
The delays affected the medicines’ distribution to health facilities.
Autonomous Service of Medicines and Health Equipment (SAMES) storeroom manager Domingos Afonso said items nearing expiry had been put aside.
“There are some items which are less than two years from expiry so we conducted an inspection to inform the Health Ministry to compel the company to exchange it,” he said.
President of Commission F (education, health, culture, veterans’ affairs and gender equality) Virgilio da Costa Hornai said it was the responsibility of the Health Ministry to find a solution with Kimia Farma.
“The problem is that the contract was signed in 2013; the medicines were imported mid 2014 in a big quantity which can cause an oversupply and damage unless stock is carefully managed,” he said.
Health Minister Sergio da Costa Lobo said he would speak to Kimia Farma representatives about the issue.
“The contract was directly with Kimia Farma so when such a situation appears, we can just directly contact the company,” he said.
