No meds since April
State patients who use Perindopril to control their high blood pressure have been without their pills for at least two months.
State hospitals countrywide have been out of Perindopril, a medicine for high blood pressure, since April.
State patients say they were turned away when they went to hospitals for refills of the blood pressure pills and they cannot afford to buy this medicine at private pharmacies.
Health ministry permanent secretary Petronella Masabane confirmed the situation, but said the drugs arrived in the country this week.
High blood pressure is a common condition in Namibia. Untreated, it causes damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Damage to these organs may cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and other problems.
Perindopril is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Perindopril is in a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It makes blood flow more smoothly by preventing the production of certain natural chemicals that constrict the blood vessels.
“It is true that Perindopril 4mg was out of stock at all the state facilities countrywide since April this year. The ministry tried all means to restock. We only received this stock yesterday (Tuesday) and we expect the situation to return to normal as soon as possible,” Masabane said.
Masabane could not say whether the ministry had shortages of other drugs at the moment.
A pensioner, Olavi Shomongula, described the situation as devastating.
“Since April when my medicine was finished I have been going to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital pharmacy and other clinics in Oshana Region but I am told that there are no high blood pressure drugs. Until today I am coming from the pharmacy and I was told there are no medicines and I have been experiencing severe headache and sometimes I cannot see well,” Shomongula said.
This shortage happened despite a new computer system called Facility Electronic Stock Card (FESC).
FESC is an electronic stock management tool that simplifies pharmaceutical inventory management tasks.
With FESC, pharmacy staff and managers monitor medicine stocks and compile a report of essential logistics information for effective planning. Pharmacy staff can use it to track the availability and use of pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies at health facilities.
ILENI NANDJATO
State patients say they were turned away when they went to hospitals for refills of the blood pressure pills and they cannot afford to buy this medicine at private pharmacies.
Health ministry permanent secretary Petronella Masabane confirmed the situation, but said the drugs arrived in the country this week.
High blood pressure is a common condition in Namibia. Untreated, it causes damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Damage to these organs may cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and other problems.
Perindopril is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Perindopril is in a class of medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It makes blood flow more smoothly by preventing the production of certain natural chemicals that constrict the blood vessels.
“It is true that Perindopril 4mg was out of stock at all the state facilities countrywide since April this year. The ministry tried all means to restock. We only received this stock yesterday (Tuesday) and we expect the situation to return to normal as soon as possible,” Masabane said.
Masabane could not say whether the ministry had shortages of other drugs at the moment.
A pensioner, Olavi Shomongula, described the situation as devastating.
“Since April when my medicine was finished I have been going to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital pharmacy and other clinics in Oshana Region but I am told that there are no high blood pressure drugs. Until today I am coming from the pharmacy and I was told there are no medicines and I have been experiencing severe headache and sometimes I cannot see well,” Shomongula said.
This shortage happened despite a new computer system called Facility Electronic Stock Card (FESC).
FESC is an electronic stock management tool that simplifies pharmaceutical inventory management tasks.
With FESC, pharmacy staff and managers monitor medicine stocks and compile a report of essential logistics information for effective planning. Pharmacy staff can use it to track the availability and use of pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies at health facilities.
ILENI NANDJATO
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