Paulina Quintao – Four containers full of medicines at the Medicine and Medical Equipment Autonomous Service (SAMES) warehouse were alleged to be expired and the government will have to destroy them soon.

National MP Ilda Maria da Conceicao expressed her disappointment because many Timorese complain about the shortage of medicines and yet four containers full of medicines will now have to be destroyed because they have expired.

"This is not a joke. Our people go to the hospitals and are told there are no medicines available. Doctors then write prescriptions so they can be bought outside while our (SAME) warehouse burns medicines. This is not fair," said the MP.

MP Conceicao urged the government to resolve the management issues at SAMES and the procurement process for medicines because each year Timor-Leste imports medicines that with a quick expiration date.

According to information available the medicines was purchased in 2013-2014 and cost USD one million dollars. "We spend so much money buying medicines that are supposed to go to the people not just end up going up in flames," she added.

Meanwhile resident Jose Alves said he was upset with this situation because the people lack medicines but he heard about the government burning medicines.

"And then the people who already have low incomes have to spend their own money buying medicines in private pharmacies," he said.

He urged competent authorities to investigate this situation because the state has spent so much money purchasing medicines that end up burning.

The Executive Director of SAMES, Odete Maria Belo said the medicines in question have in fact not yet been destroyed because the process of verification is still in progress.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/14202-four-containers-of-medicines-expire-at-sames