The ministry of health in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has embarked on a plan to shut down all the unlicensed private clinics, pharmacies, and drug stores amidst reports of patients dying while being treated at such facilities.
Atong Kuol Manyang, the state health minister told Radio Tamazuj that all the private health facilities in the state capital, Bor town, have until May 24 next week to seek the ministry’s approval to operate risk closure.
She pointed out that they came up with the administrative decision after the health ministry’s survey showed that more than 50 percent of private clinics in Bor operate illegally.
“We assessed all the pharmacies in Bor town. Our team went out and managed to go through 109 clinics, pharmacies, and drug stores. So, out of 109, we found that only 53 have licenses to operate, three have expired licenses, while the rest never had licenses,” Minister Kuol said. “And also when our team went around, it was found that some people running the pharmacies or drug stores are not qualified. The other reason that also prompted us is that you find buildings with no fans, which may make medicine expire.”
She pointed out that the regulation will help build public trust in private health facilities in the state, warning that any facility which will not meet their requirements will be shut down.
David Garang Goc of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, welcomed the exercise, saying health facilities should be regulated by the government because they serve the local populations.