Medicine shortage being remedied

− suppliers fast-tracking orders, delivery

Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo says the Government has ordered and shipped vital medications to alleviate shortages in the health system.

Dr. Mahadeo said this is in addition to purchasing all medicines available locally to address the massive drug shortage the administration encountered upon taking office last year.

In an interview with DPI on Friday, Dr. Mahadeo said even as the situation improves, there are several options available within the sector to ensure the public is served.

“What are we doing right now to deal with these issues? One, the regional tender boards, they have monies in their budget to purchase drugs and medical supplies as a backup emergency supplies for the shortages that they may have. It will go through the tender board process, and they are going to receive their supplies.

So, although we had initially an emergency purchase for medicines, all the stocks that we had here in Guyana, we bought it out and the companies now have to bring it back again. We are also still awaiting delivery on some of those items,” Dr. Mahadeo said.

He said the pharmaceutical companies are not to be blamed for the delays as despite the lead time of six months, companies have been very accommodating and have fast-tracked deliveries.

“There are shortages of medicines across the world. However, like I said, we are working on this. We expect another shipment of medicines from the supplier to be here on Monday. The following Monday, we expect another shipment and they should be large shipments.

As soon as we get supplies, however small or large, that comes to the Materials Management Unit, we immediately ship it out, send it to the regions,” Dr. Mahadeo said.

Meanwhile, the Government has made provisions in Budget 2021 to replace broken equipment at hospitals with more advanced digital machines.

“The sad thing in the healthcare system is that when you don’t take care of the medical equipment hundreds of thousands of people suffer, and that has been happening. Let’s take the case of Region Five, there is a very old, antiquated X-ray machine, and machines can have a lifespan, so you have to budget for it, you have to replace it.”

Some $322 million from the health sector’s $53.5 billion allocation will be used to purchase equipment for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Another $2.8 billion has been allocated for the modernisation and expansion of the physical health infrastructure and $35 million to strengthen emergency medical services.

The health sector received some $51.7 billion in the 2020 Emergency Budget, of which $14.3 million was used to procure drugs and medical supplies that were in short supply.