HELEN JOSEPH HOSPITAL ALSO SHORT OF ANTIBIOTICS

Helen Joseph hospital in west Johannesburg has run out of common antibiotics. Doctors at the hospital were informed in an e-mail by hospital superintendent Dr Geraldine Fraser last week Thursday that antibiotics like Augmentin, Cloaxillin, Rocephin and Tazocine are out of stock or in short supply.

This is the second hospital in Gauteng to run out of vital medicines in the new year. Last week Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital also informed doctors that some common antibiotics had run out, and there was no Panado either.

Patients at both hospitals are at risk because antibiotic substitutes are less effective. Hospital management is to blame because critical medicine stock should be carefully monitored at all times.

Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe must intervene urgently to ensure that these hospitals have a full supply of medicine.

Top managers who can't do their jobs must be removed, and competent people put in their place,

Statement by issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, January 15 2012

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