Despite the introduction of a digital medicine-tracking system and the opening of new pharmaceutical storage facilities, the Ministry of Health says limited warehouse space continues to affect its ability to receive medicines and medical supplies.

The explanation was given to the Auditor General after an audit found nearly $10 billion in outstanding deliveries under government contracts as of September 2026, along with millions of dollars in expired and damaged stock.

In July 2026, the Ministry began rolling out CORTEX, a digital inventory management system intended to replace manual recordkeeping, monitor medicine stocks in real time and automatically flag when supplies need replenishing. It was also promoted as a way to reduce wastage and prevent medicines from expiring unused.

The Government has also been expanding regional storage capacity. A $14 million drug bond was commissioned in Lethem in April 2025, while a new pharmaceutical bond at Onderneeming, Essequibo, opened in July 2026. Additional facilities were being developed in other regions to reduce dependence on central storage and improve access to medicines.

However, according to the Auditor General's 2025 report, the Ministry had received 23.73 billion in medicines and medical supplies under 197 contracts awarded in 2025 with anothiner 7.799 billion in deliveries outstanding as of September 15, 2026.

A further G$2.172 billion remained outstanding under 17 contracts awarded in 2024.
Among the suppliers, New GPC accounted for 6.26 billion in outstanding deliveries under the 2025 contracts, while western scientific company accounted for 1.423 billion.

The Ministry explained that the 2025 contracts covered deliveries and payments across both 2025 and 2026. It said limited space at the central medical bond had required deliveries to be staggered.

But storage was not the only concern.

At the same facility, auditors identified G$87.449 million in expired or damaged medicines and medical supplies. A physical stock count also revealed discrepancies between inventory records and actual quantities for 23 of the 30 items sampled.

The Ministry informed auditors that it intended to dispose of the expired and damaged supplies by the end of October.

The Auditor General has recommended that the Ministry strengthen storage arrangements and ensure suppliers fulfil their contractual obligations within the required timeframes.