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MANZINI – “We seek the intervention of Cabinet as there are just no drugs in hospitals,” says the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU).
SWADNU Secretary General (SG) Mayibongwe Masangane said the drugs shortage had reached alarming levels, as nothing had happened since they raised the alarm on the issue two months ago.
He said the situation had worsened and their resolution was to now seek the intervention of Cabinet. Masangane said the intervention they sought was to at least have Cabinet allow the suspension of procurement protocols if need be, so that the Ministry of Health could deal with the immediate challenge – shortage of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
The impeccable sources disclosed that the issue had been ongoing and had been reported to the management of the hospital. They said patients with hypertension always had to buy drugs like atenolol, slow K, digoxin and furosemide. The sources disclosed that in fact, almost all ailments had a drug shortage. Also on the list of drugs that are not available is medication for treating pain “The stock has not been replenished in most of (Diclofenac and Tramadol) and severe infections the facilities since May and it is near impossible (Cefazolin). On the other hand, the Auditor to work,” he said. General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, was said to
To this, the Director of Health Services, Dr have been engaged to investigate the shortage of Vusi Magagula, said the challenge was there and medicines. The shortage of medical supplies and government was doing everthing possible to deal drugs has been a constant challenge in the public with it. Dr Magagula said there had been supplies health sector in the kingdom for time immemorial that were delivered in the past weeks to some of despite interventions by the Ministry of Health to the regions through the assistance of other entities. strengthen its stock controls.
He said despite this, there was a challenge as their Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr vehicles were often without fuel due to a shortage. Simon Zwane, in a previous interview, said the
It is worth noting that this publication has AG’s Office was carrying out an investigation to reported that there was a shortage of fuel within establish the challenges. government depots, such that some departments He said some of the known causes was the inaccurate had to make contributions towards refuelling their forecasting of commodities leading to over fleet in order to render services. or under supply, the shrinking supplier base due
Also, a number of health facilities have reported to a number of reasons, including payment tendencies that they were having a stock-out of over 70 medical (United States of America Dollar (USD) drugs and supplies. This publication reported against the local currency Lilangeni (SZL)).
THE LIST OF DRUGS ON STOCK-OUT
Stock
that at Mankayane Government Hospital, on May 23, 2022, the pharmacy department issued a list of drugs that were not to be prescribed to patients, as they were on stock-out.
According to sources, the medication that is not available includes syrups for minors, injections and treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It was claimed that the alternatives that were available had since dwindled due to the demand for medication.