By Editorial,
The delay by the National Medical Stores to deliver medicines and other medical supplies is severely affecting the delivery of services at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
The administrators at the hospital say the delay is partly the reason why patients are asked to buy the drugs from elsewhere.
They say it breeds what has been described as the internal brokering of medical supplies and cases of extortion within the facility.
Dr. Gonzaga Ssenyondo, the Assistant Hospital Administrator also head of the Maternity Department says the chronic stock-outs of government medical supplies at the facility have led to a lot of public outcry.
He explained that out of the hospital’s annual requisition of 4.5 billion shillings worth of medical suppliers, the government is only meeting a third of this budget estimated at 1.6 billion shillings.
Dr. Ssenyondo said the discrepancy severely affects the patients who he said usually cannot afford the cost of medicines on the open market.
The health workers also operate without some of the needed items for their personal and patient safety. Dr. Ssenyondo speaking……
Dr. Herbart Kalema, a Consultant Gynecologist at the Hospital said the inadequacy in the delivery of drugs and other medical supplies is tarnishing the image of the hospital. Dr. Herbert speaking….
Dr. Kalema revealed that the Hospital’s administration has formally petitioned the Inspectorate of Government, Members of Parliament, and local Service Delivery Audit Committees. End.