Mapanje Yusuf aged 55 and Sinsamala Chiwoya 42 from Salima district are in police custody for allegedly possessing different kinds of medicines which are being suspected to have been stolen from public hospitals.

According to Salima’s police spokesperson, Sub Inspector, Gift Chitowe, the two got nabbed last week as police in the district conducted a door-to-door check as there have been more reports of shortage of medicines at the district health institution.

He said the two own groceries where they sale these medicines. Upon being interrogated by the police officer, the two failed to defend themselves as to where they took the drugs.

According to the spokesperson, the medicines include the ARV(s) Laa, Bactrim, indocine, panado and other kinds. He said it has not been established as to how much all the medicines are costing saying calculations are still underway.

This comes barely days, after the opposing, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), led by its leader, Lazarous Chakwera, hit at the ruling, Democratic Progressive Party, led by the current president Peter Mutharika on allegations that he is failing to deliver on good health service in all the hospitals country wide.

Chakwera said the government has completely failed to deal with people who are stealing medicines and health related equipment from government hospitals leading to much loss of lives due to shortage of medicines.