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Mozambique’s Ministry of Health (MISAU) has reportedly accumulated debts of around 10 billion meticais to suppliers of medicines and other medical supplies, amid persistent difficulties in supplying health facilities across the country.
The figure was reported in an investigation by the newspaper Dossiers & Factos, which states that the financial obligations accumulated between 2018 and 2025. Debts related specifically to the supply of medicines are said to exceed 9.9 billion meticais.
Official Government documents acknowledge that delays in paying suppliers are among the constraints affecting the availability of medicines within the National Health Service.
In the 2024 Economic and Social Plan and State Budget Performance Report, the Government said the average availability of essential medicines stood at 84%, below the 90% target. The identified challenges included delays in payments to suppliers, failure to meet delivery deadlines, difficulties in maritime transport, foreign currency shortages and insufficient budget resources.
The financial pressure comes at a time when the health sector continues to depend on imports for part of the medicines and equipment used in health facilities. For 2026, the Government set a target of ensuring 90% availability of essential medicines in health units.
Data from the Ministry of Health also show that, in 2025, budget execution for medicines, including in-kind donations, stood at 82%.
According to Dossiers & Factos, suppliers interviewed during the investigation argue that settling the accumulated debts is one of the conditions needed to restore predictability in the supply of medicines to the State.
The investigation also points to difficulties in the relationship between suppliers and the institutions responsible for health-sector procurement, at a time when the Government has acknowledged outstanding payments to suppliers of goods and services.
Figures presented by the Ministry of Finance showed that State debts to suppliers of goods, services and public works had reached 30.5 billion meticais, with part of the amount later settled.
The health sector continues to face the challenge of ensuring a regular supply of medicines and other essential medical products to health facilities, amid financial constraints and the need to settle outstanding obligations to suppliers.
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