DRUG SHORTAGE CANS OPS AT BARA HOSPITAL

A dire shortage of anaesthetic drugs has this week forced the cancellation of most non-urgent surgery at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

The hospital is running low on drugs such as Fentanyl, Suxmethonium and Neostigmine, which are essential for anaesthesia.

Morphine and Panado are also in short supply.

Other Gauteng hospitals are facing similar medicine shortages, but the Gauteng Health Department has yet to acknowledge the looming crisis.

The blame lies with the National Health Department because of the late award of national pharmaceutical tenders as well as the removal from contracts of certain coded medicines.

Gauteng should follow the lead of the Western Cape Health Department, with urgent ameliorative measures such as the following:

Allocate any available stock as soon as it is received to health facilities.

Repack certain medicines into smaller patient-ready pack sizes so that they can be distributed more widely.

Source medicine off-contract and engage with suppliers to expedite delivery.

Provide guidelines on safe use of alternative medications.

If necessary, provincial contracts should be used to ensure a reliable supply of essential medication for patients.

Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu needs to tell us what she us doing to ensure our hospitals have the medicines they need to provide quality care.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, November 21 2014

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