Epilepsy, diabetes drugs shortage
MBABANE – Person with epilepsy and diabetes are appealing for help following the shortage of their medication at the country’s public health institutions.
7he 7imes of (swatini through its reliable sources has gathered that (s watini has once again run out of critical drugs including those for people with epilepsy and those diagnosed with diabetes.
7hese drugs include (pilim which is used to prevent sei]ures and Metformin and $dlyxin for treating diabetes.
3ersons with epilepsy made the plea during the (pilepsy 6upport *roup $genda which was held at the +ilton *arden ,nn last weeN. 7hey said the shortage of the drugs was a challenge because they were expensive and un affordable costing over ( . 2n the other hand (swatini 'iabetes $s sociation also stated its predicament regarding the difficulty in sourcing their drugs which they said were also very expensive.
Syringes
2n average the drugs last for a month. 7hey mentioned that it had been over a month without the drugs including syringes for inMecting themselves for those who used insulin.
(swatini (pilepsy 2rganisation 'i rector $braham 1tshalintshali stated that the (pilim drugs were very scarce of late. 1tshalintshali said there were over people who were enrolled on the drug hence it was commonly used in most health facilities.
³, thinN it could be the issue of Tuantity when orders are made which causes the instability of the drug. 7he drug happens to be out of stocN anytime after being ordered ´ said the director. +e stated that (pilim was commonly used in most health facilities as it was preferred compared to other drugs due to the minimum side effects it had.
1tshalintshali said (pilim was very expensive even for people who afford ed. ³:e raise the issue of drugs every now and again. ,t is not something new ´ said the director.
+e stated that there needed to be a review of the Tuantity from those who purchased stocN in various healthcare facilities.
1tshalintshali said the number of people depending on the drug was increasing adding that he was of the view that the Ministry of +ealth was using outdated data to supply the drugs.
$ccording to 1shalintshali statistics in showed that there were around
people who were on anti epilep sy drugs and they could be doubled by now. ³:e are hoping to get the reviewed data from the census which will be issued soon.´
+e said the demand had increased which was why the healthcare facilities were constantly running out of stocN.
)urthermore 1tshalintshali said in formation they received from 8nited 1ations was that in developed countries an epileptic person could be treated with ( a year. +e said compared to those countries the country¶s budget was way over which was a serious concern. 1tshalintshali wondered if the country could buy the drugs much cheaper.
(swatini 'iabetes $ssociation¶s 'um sile Mavuso said it was over three months now since she had reTuested a meeting with the 3rincipal 6ecretary 36 in the Ministry of +ealth .hanya Mabu]a over the matter but to date they had not been able to engage.
Flooded
Mavuso said she was being flooded with calls from people with diabetes who wanted assistance with drugs and had also run out of words on what to say. 6he said all the diabetes drugs were out of stocN.
$ccording to Mavuso it was now over six months without the drugs adding that since 6eptember last year there had been a shortage although government tried to substitute the drugs with others to maintain the situation. ³7his has total ly gone out of control and we seriously need help ´ said Mavuso.
Meanwhile when sought for com ment 'irector of +ealth 6ervices 'r 9elephi 2Nello said ³*enerally we have delays in the delivery of drugs and commodities but we are continuing to follow up the supplies.´