00:00Malawi has in recent years made significant progress in reducing TB cases.
00:13Just recently, the World Health Organization highlighted how the country had reduced tuberculosis
00:19cases by 40% over the past decade.
00:24But a biting shortage of frontline TB medication now threatens to reverse its gains in the fight
00:30against the disease.
00:33Hospitals across Malawi have been reporting a serious shortage of drugs in the past few
00:38months.
00:40And some have even run out of supplies.
00:44Patients are being turned away at some facilities.
00:47The Malawian Health Ministry says the shortage has been caused by global TB drugs manufacturers
00:53reducing shipments due to a shortage of a key ingredient used in making the drugs.
00:59On the issue of drugs, it's not an issue about Malawi, it's not an issue about money, it's
01:04not an issue about quantification or projection.
01:06This is an issue about a global supply chain challenge.
01:10One of the main factories that produces tuberculosis drugs for the world got closed in 2024.
01:20The situation has been made worse by recent cuts in funding for TB treatment programs.
01:26The US and UK are some of the major donors who reduced their support.
01:30You know, the withdrawal of USAID had affected WHO and WHO being the main supporter or technical
01:38assistance provider in terms of TB drug supply.
01:41talk of the global drug facility and all the other facilities that are there.
01:45I'm sure that that has greatly affected the supply chain mechanism.
01:51Malawi's Health Ministry says it's putting in place measures to deal with the crisis.
01:56And the drugs that have already been procured to address the shortage are being distributed
02:01to hospitals and other health facilities across the country.
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