Automated system launched to ensure availability of mother, child drugs.

ISLAMABAD -- An automated system has been introduced in Pakistan to ensure availability of mother and child related medicines, especially for diarrhea and pneumonia, that cause around 160,000 deaths every year.

The 'Health Logistics Management Information System (HLMIS)' will check real-time stocks of medicines at 34,000 health facilities.

The system has been launched with the technical and financial support of Unicef and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under Global Action for Pneumonia and Diarrhea.

Dr Mohammad Tariq, the country head of international development consulting firm Chemonics, told Dawn that every year 100,000 children died of diarrhea and 60,000 of pneumonia in Pakistan.

'Unavailability of medicines is a major reason behind deaths of children. So international organisations have sponsored the automated system to ensure 19 medicines, including medicines which are required for mother at the time of delivery,' he said.

Health Logistics Management Information System will check real-time stocks of medicines at 34,000 health facilities

'It is not unusual that medicines are consumed at Basic Health Units (BHUs) and additional supplies could not be sent there on time. The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) is very much serious to ensure availability of medicines and reduce mother and child mortalities,' he said.

'Because of the system, which has been introduced in Punjab and Sindh, it will become possible to check the stocks at all health facilities and additional stocks would be provided in case of an early consumption.'

Dr Tariq said in the past a similar incident occurred in the vaccine department of National Institute of Health (NIH) as vaccines were found expired.

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