Tripoli: The Audit Bureau is actively monitoring drug supply operations at various health institutions to ensure the safety of drug stocks. The President of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, recently conducted a meeting at the Bureau’s headquarters in Tripoli to address these concerns. Attendees included the Chairman of the National General Authority for Organ, Tissue, and Cell Transplantation, the Chairman of the National Authority for Kidney Diseases, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medical Supply Authority, the Chairman of the Public Tender Committee, and the Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control, along with directors from relevant departments and authorities.

According to Libyan News Agency, the meeting was part of an ongoing initiative to follow up on observations previously highlighted by the Audit Bureau in multiple communications. These observations focus on the persistent issue of double-supply of drugs and medical supplies, which poses risks to drug stock safety
and results in the wastage of public funds. The Bureau has long advocated for effective coordination among relevant authorities to rectify these issues until the current legal framework is adequately addressed.

The meeting also covered recent corrective measures taken by the institutions involved. These measures include enhanced coordination between the National Center for Disease Control and the Medical Supply Authority concerning the receipt and management of supplies. Efforts are being made to control the preparation of needs, avoid duplication, and ensure the optimal use of existing inventory.

Discussions also extended to the responsibilities of the Organ Transplant Authority and the Kidney Diseases Authority in dispensing medications to patients. An interim coordination mechanism was established, enabling data exchange through the electronic systems of each entity. This mechanism is a temporary solution until a unified patient database is developed and the legal framework regulating these bodies is res
olved.

The Audit Bureau emphasized its oversight and preventative role during the meeting, aiming to address deficiencies and highlight the need for procedural improvements. These steps are crucial to ensuring the safety of the health sector, rationalizing spending, and safeguarding public funds.