‘gone from bad to worse’
LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale claims the drug shortage situation in the country has gone from bad to worse.
“The Opposition Office has been reliably informed that the drug shortage situation in the country has reached a very life-threatening point,” Wale said in a statement..
He said the recent media report of drug shortage in Isabel province is just the tip of an iceberg.
“My office has been reliably informed that there is a serious drug shortage situation around all hospitals and clinics around the country.
“We have been informed of the same situation in Honiara, Gizo, Auki and Buala.
“And it is anybody’s guess what the situation is like for the health centres in the other provinces. It is truly disturbing,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said reports that essential drugs such as panadol, antibiotics, anti- fugal, anti- inflammatory, ibuprofen, ampicillin, diclofenic, including IV antibiotics and dressings are out of stock are intolerable.
“How long is the Government going to continue to turn a blind eye on this issue.
“My office have been informed of related deaths to the drug issue shortage and I think the health ministry and the National Referral Hospital needs to come clean on such reports if it is true,” Wale adds.
He said NRH is also low on drug supplies and the operating theatre has been on emergency mode since last week due to shortage of drugs and consumables.
Wale said the continuous negligence by the Government is putting lives of citizens at risk.
The Opposition Leader said this is not the first time he has called on the ministry including the Prime Minister to address this situation.
He said even the Prime Minister in April this year has assured the country that he has advised the health ministry to explore other modalities of procurement of essential drugs and non-consumables from overseas for the country to improve the availability supplies.
However, to date, Wale said those were just mere words without any serious action.
“The situation has in fact gone from bad to worse and it calls for serious leadership interventions to address this issue.
“We cannot continue to treat this as business as usual,” Wale said.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Service has yet to respond to Wale’s concern.
ENDS//
