Poor forecasting blamed for Skeldon Hospital sit-in – MoPH

The Public Health Ministry’s Director of Pharmacy, Oneil Atkins, said the industrial action by physicians of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at the Skeldon Hospital on Monday was totally unwarranted, adding that the sit-in was due to poor forecasting.
Staff of the hospital’s A&E department refused to see patients after they repeatedly complained about lack of basic equipment, coupled with drug shortages – items that are essential for the execute of their functions. In response to the sit-in, the MoPH dispatched a team headed by Atkins to meet with the aggrieved workers to address the issue.
According to the Ministry, the Regional Health Officer, Javaughn Stephens blamed “miscommunication” as the reason for the sit-in. He said the hospital and regional administration were not informed of any drug or medical supplies shortage.
Stephens said some of the medical items were handed over on Tuesday morning to the A&E department and the remainder will be given “before the week is out”. He added that the A&E physicians resumed duties on Monday afternoon.
The industrial action by the Skeldon Hospital A&E doctors caught the Public Health Ministry by surprise with Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams reporting that the MoPH’s authorities were mystified by the limited strike action by the employees.
“The sit-in didn’t disrupt operations in other parts of the hospital according to Mr Alex Foster, the point person for the Public Health Ministry in Region Six,” the statement related.
Atkins said the Skeldon Hospital pharmacy has “some 60 per cent of the drugs” needed to function. However, he admitted that there is a problem with medical supplies at the Region Six medical institution and blamed that on inadequate forecasting by the officials at the Hospital.
“There is difficulty getting correct consumption (patterns) to inform the MMU (Materials Management Unit) which supplies health posts, health centres, district hospitals, regional hospitals and the referral hospital with drugs, medicines and medical supplies. The local health sector uses an average monthly consumption pattern to help with forecasting the needs at the existing five levels. Atkins said the health sector might have to resort to a more scientifically reliable forecasting method,” the statement informed.
He said other strengthening measures will include ensuring two additional qualified pharmacists are recruited and posted to serve the region while another will be stationed permanently at the Skeldon Hospital Pharmacy.
“Clear lines of communication are also to be established for collaboration and cooperation” at the hospital in the ‘Ancient County’, Atkins said.
Just last week, nurses at the Linden Hospital Complex staged a sit-in after repeatedly complaining about drug shortages.
Over the years, the health sector has been plagued by drug shortages and to address that, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence noted that the Ministry has hired a consultant who has worked with USAID to develop a plan for the retrofitting of Guyana’s medicine and medical supplies distribution system.
She further stated that they have started extending the Diamond Drugs Bond and are currently constructing a new bond at Kingston since the old one is not operational. She noted that once completed it would see the installation of an electronic system so that they will be able to readily have access to information to ensure that “transparency and accountability are more centred.”
Just last year, Lawrence blamed a conspiracy among some drug suppliers and Public Health Ministry staff for the crisis in the sector. She said she unearthed a combination of skulduggery, collusion, delinquency, deliberate breaching of established sector protocols by public health staff, manipulation of the system by some importers with the support of employees and a fabrication of records including evidence of bogus receipts.