04.08.2010

In January 2010, the Government of Benin adopted new laws that will make CAME a more efficient institution.

On April 8, 2010, the General Assembly of CAME approved and ratified its new legal framework that the Council of Ministers adopted on January 20, 2010.

The permanent availability of anti-malarial drugs and other products is a key element of success in the fight against malaria. In Benin, an important challenge for the health system is to ensure that supplies of anti-malarial products are uninterrupted so that every citizen has access to products whenever s/he needs it, regardless of where s/he lives. 

The Central Pharmacy (CAME) is a pivotal institution of Benin’s distribution system of pharmaceutical. However, frequent stock outs at public health facilities or the illicit sale of over priced anti malarial products threaten the Government of Benin’s strategy and international donors’ support to combat malaria. These dysfunctionalities also discourage vulnerable populations from seeking treatment from the public health system. 

To redress the medicine distribution system, the Ministry of Health requested, in November 2008, the support of USAID/Benin to assess the governance and transparency of CAME’s operations. USAID responded promptly and sent three international and local experts to audit CAME.

USAID’s experts recommended, among other reforms, overhauling the legal framework of CAME’s operations, including its statutes, internal regulations and the partnership agreement that binds it to the Government of Benin. USAID’s experts collaborated with the Ministry of Health to develop CAME’s new legal framework. USAID and the Ministry of Health then made sure that the Council of Ministers put the proposals for reforming CAME on its agenda.

In January 2010, the cabinet meeting of the Government of Benin adopted new laws that will make CAME a more efficient institution. These laws shape the legal framework that now governs the operations of CAME.

The extraordinary general meeting convened on April 8, proceeded to renew the executive management of CAME in accordance with its new statutes.

James A. Knight, the U.S. Ambassador to Benin, accompanied Professor Issifou Takpara, Minister of Health, to the opening ceremony of the extraordinary general assembly of CAME. Janet Schulman, Acting Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was present.

"The lives and well being of your fellow citizens depends on your vigilance" said Knight, addressing the new members of the general assembly of CAME.

By participating in the opening of the General Assembly of CAME, the U.S. Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to health products and services and their accessibility by the people of Benin. To that effect, USAID contribution to reforming the Central Pharmacy appears crucial to reaching the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the number of malaria-related sickness and death by 50 percent by 2010.