Serious drug shortage hits Region 3

… “not even a syringe to administer an injection” – doctor

Access to healthcare for residents in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) continues to be an uphill battle as the West Demerara Regional Hospital, the Leonora Cottage Hospital and healthcare facilities in the region are again without basic medical supplies.

A hospital source told this publication that the region’s medical supply is currently at an all-time low as pharmaceuticals and basic medical necessities are not available to health workers.
This was also confirmed by Regional Chairman Julius Faeber, who told Guyana Times the current shortage at all medical entities is a constant issue.
Meanwhile, a doctor who spoke with this publication also confirmed that the situation has reached an all-time low where some days “not even a syringe is available to administer an injection.”
Only recently, a pharmacist and his wife attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital were both arrested after they were suspected to be carrying out drug procurement and supply fraud.
The couple was caught after a fact-finding team with instructions from the Health Minister discovered discrepancies. They are to be scheduled to be charged shortly.
It was revealed however that the medical superintendent at the hospital is not carrying out her duties. She allegedly failed to carry out any inspections at the hospital’s storage bond; a responsibility which falls under her portfolio.
In the meanwhile, sources revealed that the shortage issue is even worse at the Leonora Hospital.
Reports also indicted that the doctors at the hospital are forced to work at nights without injections and patients are left at risk.
Region Three is not the only region experiencing this issue as the New Amsterdam Hospital has also reported a major shortage.
The drug shortage issue was raised by patients who mostly suffer from chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. These patients are often turned away because of the drug shortage at the institution.
Dr Vinhdya Persaud, who visited the hospital with a team on Thursday, pointed out that there seems to be a problem with the procurement of drugs at the institution.
Reports are that the hospital was so short on pharmaceuticals that they only use it for in-patients and turned away out-patient.
According to Persaud, there seems to be an issue in procuring drugs in a timely manner for the New Amsterdam Hospital and other similar facilities in the region.“It could be that the Materials Management Unit (MMU) is called and they don’t have the supplies so that the hospital may have to purchase it. In terms of the budget that the hospital has, they may not always be able to purchase adequate supplies,” Persaud explained.
Meanwhile, Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephen, who also visited the NA hospital, explained that the procurement of drugs takes a lengthy period and once the MMU cannot supply the commodity, there will be a shortage.
He explained that the current system being used in procuring supplies is one which was inherited and one that is not functioning up to standard at this time.
However, when contacted for a comment on the current issues plaguing the health sector, calls to Minister Volda Lawrence went unanswered.