In September 2026, the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines (DPNM) presented a stock status update on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) commodities.
Presented by Magona Sandra the diagnostic highlights significant inventory imbalances at the central level across combined National Medical Stores (NMS) and Joint Medical Store (JMS) holdings. While long-acting contraceptives like Implanon NXT and progestin-only pills (POPs) remain well-stocked centrally, and combined oral contraceptives (COCs) along with male condoms are fairly stocked, other core family planning options face severe gaps.
Most notably, Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) and DMPA-IM injectables are completely stocked out centrally, while IUDs, Jadelle, and Sayana Press are understocked.
2. Frontline Realities at Health Facilities
This central deficit directly impacts frontline healthcare, where overall facility-level RMNCAH commodity availability reaches 73.4%—falling significantly short of the national 95% availability target. Across health centers nationwide, 30.1% of RMNCAH items are out of stock and 30.0% are understocked, leaving only 15.1% appropriately stocked. Other health service baskets experience similar supply pressure, including essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS) at a 36.8% out-of-stock rate and laboratory commodities at a 35.9% out-of-stock rate. Specific facility-level shortages reveal critical delivery gaps:
- Mama Kits: 50.4% of health facilities are completely out of stock.
- Male Condoms: 42.5% of facilities face out-of-stock conditions.
- Amoxicillin 250mg Dispersible Tablets: 36.1% of facilities are out of stock.
- Measles-Rubella Vaccines: 32.5% of facilities lack inventory.
- Oxytocin Injections: 25.5% of facilities are out of stock, despite an overall facility availability of 78.4%.
3. Rebalancing Strategies & Pipeline Actions
To address these shortages, DPNM is implementing logistics adjustments and procurement follow-ups. Central inventory for maternal and child health (MCH) currently holds an overstock (>6 Months of Stock) in heat-stable carbetocin, misoprostol, and caffeine citrate, while tranexamic acid (TXA) and Iron+Folic acid are appropriately stocked.
To correct imbalances, DPNM authorized inter-warehouse transfers, including relocating 108,180 units of Jadelle implants. Furthermore, 400,000 units of Levoplant (representing 11 Months of Stock funded by UNFPA) are being reintroduced into the method mix. To clear central stockouts of ECP and DMPA-IM, communications were dispatched to expedite procurement pipelines alongside active tracking of submitted supply plans.
