Drug shortages affect both public and private pharmacies – Luvindao
Short-term solution in place
Health minister Esperance Luvindao has dismissed claims that life-saving drugs are widely available in Namibia despite shortages at public hospitals, warning that both state and private pharmacies are affected.
“Many private pharmacies themselves have also run out of certain pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies. So, it is not true that 100% of all medicines needed are available in private pharmacies in Namibia,” she told parliament on Wednesday.
“Not all medicines that patients may require are on the essential medicines list. It is therefore not accurate to say that all medicines are in the country but simply not in our facilities,” she added.
Luvindao was responding to member of parliament Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo, who said the country\'s health system is failing vulnerable Namibians.
“We know that in recent years there have been significant changes in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies, which have led to limited stock in our health facilities. This is indeed a burden to the elderly and the vulnerable members of our communities,” Mbinge-Tjeundo said.
“As I speak now, people are suffering from diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy. They are being told to go and buy their medication from pharmacies, at a very high cost. Some of them even call us, pleading for assistance,” she noted, adding: “But we cannot assist all Namibians, especially if they don’t have money.”
The MP warned that “people are dying simply because they cannot afford it. The medication is not available in our public health facilities, yet it is available in Namibia. How can the government help ensure that these patients can access medication from private pharmacies, given that they cannot even go one night without it?”
Tackling the shortages
In response, Luvindao insisted that her ministry has already taken steps to ease the crisis.
“We have indeed reached out to private pharmacies through the hospitals. The ministry itself does not reach out to private pharmacies directly. Instead, we provide hospitals across all regions with funds, allowing them to procure directly from pharmacies as a short-term solution. This has already been done,” she explained.
Luvindao said regional health facilities have been equipped to respond quickly.
“For those medicines that are available within private pharmacies, funds have already been provided to regional health facilities to procure them, starting from about two weeks ago and continuing into last week. This measure was precisely to ensure, as you said, that patients on the ground are not left without essential treatment while we wait for bulk suppliers,” she told parliament.
She also called for cooperation. “If there is a particular region you are aware of where this has not been implemented, please let us know, because funds have been allocated to regions specifically for this purpose."
The minister said providing regions with budgets to procure directly from pharmacies and suppliers is a short-term solution.
“Moving forward, suppliers have committed to deliver immediately, starting this week, with additional supplies expected to flow in steadily. I trust this answers your question,” she explained.
Talk to us
Mbinge-Tjeundo countered the minister, however, claiming she knows of a patient currently lying in Katutura State Hospital with epilepsy, and there was no medication in the hospital.
“We ran around, and that patient came to me for assistance. I ended up buying the medication with my own cash. What I am referring to here is that hospitals should themselves have access to private clinics. I am specifically talking about chronic medication. But the regions do not know about this arrangement. I am asking the minister to come back to us with a report from the regions. I want to hear where these regions are reporting procurement from private pharmacies,” she said.
In response, the minister said: "In cases where there are particular instances or particular regions you are aware of, please feel free to bring those to us. As the Speaker has rightfully said, we have found such cases happening, and we can only act if these specifics are brought forward."
[email protected]
“Many private pharmacies themselves have also run out of certain pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies. So, it is not true that 100% of all medicines needed are available in private pharmacies in Namibia,” she told parliament on Wednesday.
“Not all medicines that patients may require are on the essential medicines list. It is therefore not accurate to say that all medicines are in the country but simply not in our facilities,” she added.
Luvindao was responding to member of parliament Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo, who said the country\'s health system is failing vulnerable Namibians.
“We know that in recent years there have been significant changes in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies, which have led to limited stock in our health facilities. This is indeed a burden to the elderly and the vulnerable members of our communities,” Mbinge-Tjeundo said.
“As I speak now, people are suffering from diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy. They are being told to go and buy their medication from pharmacies, at a very high cost. Some of them even call us, pleading for assistance,” she noted, adding: “But we cannot assist all Namibians, especially if they don’t have money.”
The MP warned that “people are dying simply because they cannot afford it. The medication is not available in our public health facilities, yet it is available in Namibia. How can the government help ensure that these patients can access medication from private pharmacies, given that they cannot even go one night without it?”
Tackling the shortages
In response, Luvindao insisted that her ministry has already taken steps to ease the crisis.
“We have indeed reached out to private pharmacies through the hospitals. The ministry itself does not reach out to private pharmacies directly. Instead, we provide hospitals across all regions with funds, allowing them to procure directly from pharmacies as a short-term solution. This has already been done,” she explained.
Luvindao said regional health facilities have been equipped to respond quickly.
“For those medicines that are available within private pharmacies, funds have already been provided to regional health facilities to procure them, starting from about two weeks ago and continuing into last week. This measure was precisely to ensure, as you said, that patients on the ground are not left without essential treatment while we wait for bulk suppliers,” she told parliament.
She also called for cooperation. “If there is a particular region you are aware of where this has not been implemented, please let us know, because funds have been allocated to regions specifically for this purpose."
The minister said providing regions with budgets to procure directly from pharmacies and suppliers is a short-term solution.
“Moving forward, suppliers have committed to deliver immediately, starting this week, with additional supplies expected to flow in steadily. I trust this answers your question,” she explained.
Talk to us
Mbinge-Tjeundo countered the minister, however, claiming she knows of a patient currently lying in Katutura State Hospital with epilepsy, and there was no medication in the hospital.
“We ran around, and that patient came to me for assistance. I ended up buying the medication with my own cash. What I am referring to here is that hospitals should themselves have access to private clinics. I am specifically talking about chronic medication. But the regions do not know about this arrangement. I am asking the minister to come back to us with a report from the regions. I want to hear where these regions are reporting procurement from private pharmacies,” she said.
In response, the minister said: "In cases where there are particular instances or particular regions you are aware of, please feel free to bring those to us. As the Speaker has rightfully said, we have found such cases happening, and we can only act if these specifics are brought forward."
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article