Central Medical Stores Trust - Malawi

Central Medical Stores Trust - Malawi CMST stocks medicines approved by Malawi's Pharmacy, Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA).

The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) is a Malawian-based and operated not-for-profit organization that provides medicine and health commodity procurement, warehousing and distribution services to the Ministry of Health and other healthcare partners.

CENTRAL MEDICAL STORES TRUST JOINS THE DISCOURSE FOR OXYGEN AVAILABILITY IN MALAWIThe Central Medical Stores Trust has j...
17/12/2025

CENTRAL MEDICAL STORES TRUST JOINS THE DISCOURSE FOR OXYGEN AVAILABILITY IN MALAWI

The Central Medical Stores Trust has joined a two-day discourse on sustaining the availability of medical oxygen in Malawi's hospitals.

The Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), has since 2020 been implementing a U.S. Government funded project called 'Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC).'

The project introduced Liquid Oxygen (LOX) as an efficient, reliable and cost-effective source. To ensure that gains made through this project are sustained, a LOX Systems Sustainability Strategy is being developed.

Considering CMST's first experience in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, the MOHS considered it a critical part to the conversation. It is the desire of the Ministry that CMST carries the responsibility of procuring and distributing the Liquid Oxygen.

In the meeting, held at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre since Tuesday, CMST is represented by its Quality Assurance Manager, Mr. David Kulemela and Warehouse Manager, Mr. Cosmas Sawamba.

CMST WELCOMES ONLINE PUBLIC REFORMS PORTAL CMST Information Officer, Mr David Kulemela says the newly launched Public S...
11/12/2025

CMST WELCOMES ONLINE PUBLIC REFORMS PORTAL

CMST Information Officer, Mr David Kulemela says the newly launched Public Sector Reforms Information Management System (PSRIMS) platform enhances the organisation’s diligent reporting of critical reforms in the quest for uninterrupted supply of quality pharmaceuticals towards the nation’s health gain.

The Right Honourable Dr. Jane Ansah, SC, JA (Rtd.), First Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, launched the platform today at the Bingu International Conventional Centre in Lilongwe, under the theme “A digital transformation for efficient Public Sector Reforms Management”

She said the system reflects commitment to transformative strategic delivery of critical public service.

She said the new platform ‘s efficiency is in line with Government’s desire for an open and accountable process of fixing broken public systems.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Justin Sadack Saidi, said the digital platform — developed with UNDP’s financial support — speaks volumes of government’s desire for public service accountability and transparency.

Secretary for Public Sector Reforms Management, Dr Lucky Sikwese, said the end-to-end functionality of the system, from reforms conceptualisation to progress reporting, replaces the lax of the old manual system with real-time appreciation of reforms progress.

The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Dr Chika Charles Aniekwe said the PSRIMS ensures proper identification and implementation of strategic development and that Government invests in popularising this important platform.

11/12/2025

2026 – 2027 Budget planning session hoists sustainability considerations

A two-day 2026 – 2027 budget planning meeting has commenced this morning at CMST Headquarters, with Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chikaiko Chdzunda, noting a delicate balance presented by, on one hand, a sensitive mandate to make adequate and quality essential pharmaceuticals available, and on the other, the operational challenges in the Trust’s environment.

Officially opening the session, Chadzunda has since challenged participants to find the perfect balance by budgeting around priorities.

Finance Manager Vincent Chilinda said the session would take a team approach to develop governance-oriented and sustainability-focused estimates.

He said approaches would ensure closing of gaps and utilising opportunities towards building a stronger, more efficient organisation — one whose resources and their use match its mission.

Director of Pharmaceutical Operations, Mr Geoffrey Ngwira, said CMST sits among the main concerns in Government’s ambition of making quality and affordable medicines and medical supplies available.

Director of Procurement and Disposal, Dr Charles Khombeni, said CMST is making deep sacrifices in other expenditure lines to prioritise medicines and medical supplies.

Governance

The Central Medical Stores Trust is today participating in the final orientation and official launch of the online Publi...
11/12/2025

The Central Medical Stores Trust is today participating in the final orientation and official launch of the online Public Sector Reforms Information Management System (PSRIMS) at the Bingu International Convention Centre. The session includes the induction of reforms coordinators, reviewers, and controlling officers on the use of the platform, followed by the official launch by Right Honourable Dr. Jane Ansah, SC, JA (Rtd.), First Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.

As a corporate governance–driven institution entrusted with a sensitive national mandate, CMST welcomes this platform as a timely tool for transparent, accountable, and structured reporting. The Trust has consistently remained up to date with its reforms reporting obligations, and this new system further strengthens our ability to document and showcase ongoing strategic reforms. We stand ready to continue demonstrating our commitment to efficiency, integrity, and strengthened service delivery within the public health supply chain.

NAO, CMST IN RECEIVABLES VERIFICATION EXIT MEETING The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has hosted the National Audit...
10/12/2025

NAO, CMST IN RECEIVABLES VERIFICATION EXIT MEETING

The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has hosted the National Audit Office (NAO) for an exit meeting on verification and certification of receivables arrears for District Health Offices for years ended 31st March 2022 to 2025.

The NAO team was led by Chief Verification Officer, Mr Fred Kalonga, who said CMST’s support during their exercise could not go unnoticed.

CMST Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chikaiko Chadzunda, has commended the professional approach of the NAO team throughout the verification and the exit meeting, terming it “a piece of work by seasoned auditors.”

Governance

Health is a Human Right. So are Medicines! On this International Human Rights Day, CMST reaffirms its commitment to ensu...
10/12/2025

Health is a Human Right. So are Medicines! On this International Human Rights Day, CMST reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every Malawian has the right access to essential medicines. Through our service to public health facilities across the country, we help safeguard the right to health for over 20 million people. Because dignity begins with access, and no one should be left behind!

CMST IN 2026/27 MEDICINES AND MEDICAL SUPPLY QUANTIFICATION AND PLANNING SESSIONToday the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ch...
01/12/2025

CMST IN 2026/27 MEDICINES AND MEDICAL SUPPLY QUANTIFICATION AND PLANNING SESSION

Today the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chikaiko Chadzunda, officially opened a two-day 2026 — 2027 Medicines and Medical Supply (MMS) quantification and supply planning session, calling on participants “to exercise a patient-centred duty of care by making sure all critical items are adequately considered.”

He said he expects the session “to be rigorous, data-driven, and aligned to national priorities" and that "it should as well be reflective of global best practices (WHO, USAID, UNICEF) and the realities of a low-resource public health supply chain.”

Director of Pharmaceutical Operations, Mr Geoffrey Ngwira, said “the session is expected to draw on up-to-date epidemiological trends, service delivery data, and historical consumption patterns to generate realistic forecasts, assess current stock levels, pipeline orders, supplier lead times, and available funding,” while also “accounting for policy or treatment guideline changes that affect product demand.”

Representatives from the Procurement and Finance Directorates also hinted on need to agree on appropriate forecasting assumptions, evaluate affordability, and generate a detailed supply plan with procurement schedules and projected stock levels, and that mitigation strategies be provided for identified risks.

The meeting will also consider government programmes, Ministry of Health's quantification, and possible development partner commitments to avoid duplication, and these will ensure a harmonised, well-documented, transparent, and actionable national supply plan.

Today, CMST joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Aids Day. As a national pharmaceutical supply chain play...
01/12/2025

Today, CMST joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Aids Day. As a national pharmaceutical supply chain player, we continue prioritising health solutions towards the nation's sustained health gain.

20/11/2025

CMST UP TO DATE WITH BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION REPORTING

The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) today presented updates to a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Decentralisation on implementation of the Trust’s 2025 – 2026 annual budget.

The M&E is provided for in Section 92, Sub-section 2 of the Public Finance Management Act requiring State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to provide updates which are then examined against a Shareholder’s Letter of Expectations signed by the Secretary to Treasury and an SOE’s Board Chairperson.

Led by the Director of Finance and Administration Mr Vincent Chilinda, CMST successfully provided the updates on various strategic and operational issues, including quarterly management accounts as at 30 June 2025 and 30 September 2025.

CMST SUSTAINS SADC POOLED PROCUREMENT DIALOGUE The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) today hosted a team from the Sout...
20/11/2025

CMST SUSTAINS SADC POOLED PROCUREMENT DIALOGUE

The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) today hosted a team from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) pooled procurement arrangement for medicines and medical supplies.

The team was in the country to continue with dialogue, including through a meeting with the Minister of Health and Population, Honourable Madalitso Baloyi, MP.

The pooled procurement arrangement is working towards a regional effort to improve access to affordable, quality-assured essential medicines and medical supplies across member states.

CMST Director of Procurement and Disposal, Dr Charles Khombeni, says the arrangement is a game changer because of stronger bargaining power from members’ consolidated orders, hence Malawi’s chance to grab the opportunities it brings.

Khombeni said the arrangement is also anchored in reducing costs, improving supply security, and harmonising standards.

CMST HOSTS MINISTER OF HEALTH AND SANITATIONToday, the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) is delighted to have hosted t...
11/11/2025

CMST HOSTS MINISTER OF HEALTH AND SANITATION

Today, the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) is delighted to have hosted the Honourable Minister of Health and Sanitation, Madam Madalitso Baloyi, MP.

The Honourable Minister appreciated strategic and operational issues, including successes, challenges and opportunities in CMST’s day-to-day .

Among the highlights, the Minister was delighted at CMST’s improving stockholding, plans to construct a new 26,000-pallet space warehouse to do away with costly rented premises, arrangements to integrate parallel pharmaceutical supply chains into the CMST one and the continued reduction of expiries to below one percent, which is way below the internationally accepted occurrence of 2 percent.

She also took note of CMST’s challenges including the debt burden with suppliers and public health facilities’ delays in settling CMST invoices.

Secretary for Health, Dr Dan Namarika, emphasised the Ministry’s support to CMST, saying the organisation must therefore showcase efficiency and become the call-point for quality, adequate and affordable pharmaceuticals for the public health system and beyond.

CMST Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chikaiko Chadzunda, said the visit and its ensuing discussion underscored the Minister’s quest for efficiency and vision to see a CMST that patient-centred and forward looking.

CMST CALLS FOR DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH AGAINST NCDsIn a panel discussion at the ongoing two-day Pharmacy Annual General Mee...
07/11/2025

CMST CALLS FOR DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH AGAINST NCDs

In a panel discussion at the ongoing two-day Pharmacy Annual General Meeting in Mangochi, Director of Pharmaceutical Operations Central Medical Stores Trust, Mr. Geoffrey Ngwira has called on the pharmacy fraternity to embrace technology as a tool for information gathering and decision-making.

He stressed that information-backed pharmaceutical supply chain decisions are key to the attainment of equitable access to quality medicines for managing NCDs.

Ngwira said good strides can only be made where supply chain decisions are informed by well-gathered and analysed data in monitoring availability, procurement, distribution and re-distribution of resources for managing NCDs.

Address

Mzimba Street, Opposite Kamuzu University Of Health Sciences, Private Bag 55
Lilongwe

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 16:30
Thursday 07:30 - 16:30
Friday 07:30 - 16:30

Telephone

+2651753910

Website

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