Poor observatory practices blamed for disappearance – source

Missing pethidine at GPHC

…investigation continuing

Poor observatory practices are being blamed for the late discovery of the missing pethidine at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Male Medical Ward, according to a source close to the investigation.

On June 11, while changing shifts, it was discovered that 10 vials of pethidine, a controlled painkiller under the Dangerous Drugs Act, was discovered missing. The missing drug was replaced by magnesium s

ulfate.

A source close to the investigation said the discovery came after the male nurse taking over the night shift observed magnesium sulfate mixed with the pethidine and brought it to the PM nurse’s attention.

“It supposed to have 35 injection pethidine inside of the cupboard, but when the male nurse open the cupboard and he checked, he noticed that the label for a set of five was different. Because he noticed it was different, he checked the other one and noticed two sets was magnesium sulfate,” the source explained.

“The magnesium sulfate has the same appearance of the pethidine, and the person exchange it. When the night nurse taking over made the discovery and he called the (PM shift) nurse attention, she is claiming she took over pethidine,” the source added.

The cupboard containing the dangerous drugs is always locked, and only a registered nurse has the keys to access it. On the day in question, the female nurse in charge of the PM shift handled the contents of the cupboard. However, the source said the nurse cannot be solely responsible, since it is customary that when taking over shifts the nurses would just check quantity and not contents, and as such, she could have been easily deceived.

The GPHC Audit Department, in collaboration with the Security Department, launched an investigation into the incident, primarily focusing on the male nurses, since one of them was recently involved in another incident where EPO injections went missing.

When contacted, the GPHC representatives would only confirm an investigation was launched, and it was currently ongoing.

Eleven nurses (three males and eight females), along with the Ward Manager, Senior Departmental Supervisor and Junior Departmental Supervisor, were all asked to provide internal management with statements regarding the incident.

The estimated cost of one of the injection begins at $5,000. When asked, the source said that security at the main gate stopped checking the bags of nurses when they are leaving the hospital, and noted that had that measure still been in effect, the culprit might have been caught.

The drug provides quick relief to pain, and is in demand on the black market, since it is used to treat persons suffering from sickle cell anaemia among other diseases.

Over the years, several irregularities have been discovered at drug storage facilities across the country. In March, The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had to be called in to investigate the disappearance of several pharmaceutical drugs and alleged fraud at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The Police were told that the pharmacist at the hospital could not account for several ampules of pethidine, codine and morphine. Additionally, the missing drugs were not reported to the Regional Health Officer.

Public Health Ministry employee Daquan Griffith was charged with stealing a quantity of drugs from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) Bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. He allegedly stole four boxes of On Call Plus Blood Glucose test strips, amounting to $20,000, and was granted $50,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.