Doctors decry lack of medical supplies

Doctors attached to the Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals are urging health minister Bernhard Haufiku to tackle a lack of medicines and essential surgical supplies.

The doctors are seemingly asking the ministry officials to get their house in order.

The letter, which is printed on an official Ministry of Health letterhead, is signed by a senior medical officer in the ministry, Dr Manojkumar Kamble, on behalf of other doctors also listed in the letter.

However, the doctors appear to have backtracked on the letter, as all involved parties yesterday denied any knowledge of the document.

In the letter, the group expressed dissatisfaction with “unprecedented” shortages of basic supplies at the Katutura Intermediate and Windhoek Central hospitals that have reportedly been experienced for the last two months in operating theatres, wards and casualty departments.

It appears that the two hospitals, as well as the Oshakati State Hospital, do not have sufficient suction catheters, nasogastric tubes that provide access to the stomach for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, sterile gowns, gloves, sterile drapes, and thoracostomy drains that are used to drain air, blood, bile, pus, or other fluids from the chest cavity.





“Air-conditioning is poor. Ambient temperatures exceed 30 degrees in theatre 3 and 4 in Katutura hospital. Some essential drugs are not available. Poor theatre lighting with no handles for adjusting the lights. Neuro shunts, vascular shunts, dialysis catheters are not available,” the letter stated.

According to the doctors, the theatre matron has repeatedly informed the hospital management about the state of affairs.The doctors also questioned the new central procurement body that was recently introduced at the ministry.

“We are all for change, growth and development. However, this has to be done in the correct context,” they wrote.

The letter says these shortages have resulted in increasing morbidity and necessitated repeated procedures for wounds that turned septic and cross-infections. Because of the shortage there has reportedly been a higher demand for antibiotics and reports of antibiotic resistance.

“The spiralling morbidity and mortality has demoralised the surgeons. We are risking professional credibility in providing care for our patients.

“Honourable Haufiku, please attend to this dire emergency. Your directors may inform you a situation different from what we experience. Please trust our communiqué, it is not meant to malign. We are concerned with the deteriorating situation. It affects patients' lives.”

The doctors suggested that the ministry stop all elective surgery and undertake an emergency stock-taking and procure all consumables before surgical work proceeds.

“We are approaching the holiday season. And this situation should be considered as a critical emergency for it will deteriorate to life-threatening conditions.

“It was planned that 15 December would be the last elective surgery day to commence again on 15 January. [But] now we will close the theatre on 1 December. This will enable all corrections to be made,” reads the letter.

Denials

Both Haufiku and the ministry's permanent secretary, Andreas Mwoombola, have denied receiving the letter.

However, reports that the ministry is running out of medical stock and failing to replenish supplies are not new.

Last month, Namibian Sun reported that the two Windhoek hospitals had run out of critical supplies such as bandages, cottonwool and sterile supplies used for operations.

Last week, medical practitioners at the Oshakati hospital said they feared the lives of patients could be put at risk because of untenable conditions at the hospital.