The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is to investigate the persistent drug stockouts in public health facilities.
While many health facilities in the country order medicines through the National Medic Stores and the Joint Medical Stores, often health facilities in rural areas do not have enough medicines while many in urban areas are reporting shortages at the same time.
Speaking in Rubindi Town Council, the IGG Beti Kamya said that her office has received several complaints that health facilities have been turned into short-time shelves for drugs that are supplied by the government but are later either stolen or patients pay for them.
Kamya was responding to concerns raised by residents of Rubindi Town Council during a Baraza organized by the IG to create more awareness and sensitization about the new lifestyle Audit campaign that was launched in 2021.
While at Bwizibwera Health Center IV in Bwizibwera-Rutooma Town Council, patients told her that the facility is always hit by drug shortages, putting their lives at risk.
They also said that health workers especially at Rubindi Health Center III, and Kariro Health Center II report late for duty and leave shortly after lunch.
Kamya directed the in-charge to furnish her office with documents about the drug supply from National Medical Stores-NMS.
Dr. Ronald Atuhairwe blamed the drug stock on fewer drugs supplied by NMS. Dr. Atuhairwe added said that Health Center IVs are not supposed to exceed requests for medicines worth 19 million Shillings.
The Director of Project Risk, Monitoring, and Control, Annet Twine said the IG will investigate the complaints.
Edward Kasagara, the Mbarara Chief Administrative Officer tasked the District Health Officer to investigate the Health workers of Rubindi Health Center III, and Kariro Health Center II following allegations of absenteeism.
While in Ntungamo, Kamya also said that the IG has picked interest in the allegations of extortion and corruption at Entebbe Airport.
On Thursday, social media was awash with allegations from travelers who claim that some immigration officers are demanding bribes before clearing them to take flights.
She said that the allegations are tainting the country’s image and can’t be ignored.
*****
URN
One Health Care worker had a riddle to solve
On a clinic day he had two tins of a drug taken by almost all clients
They were supposed to get medicine for a period of one month or more assuming it was one tablet twice a day for 60 days, this came to 120 tabs ( 8 clients per tin of 1000 tabs)
The clinic is very busy and runs into late afternoon
So he asked
Do I give the first 16 full dose and the rest miss out?or give a few to each so that a big number get something?
That is their predicament ( not every one steals, but civil servants have to keep quiet or else it is considered to be politics)
There is the cycle of supplies, so the next time the vehicle is sited, prescriptions of those who missed out also turn up
So is the demand met to ensure that every one is satsfied?
Experience from those exposed to facilities( not on the payroll)
After getting to the bottom of this issue of “stock outs” that has been here for some time ( cited frequently)
It will be prudent for those incharge to determine the role failure to get “the right drug, for the right patient in the amounts desired and to be consumed as descrobed” from a facility; plays in driving antimicrobial resistance
It is the very reason that an ordinary citizen goes to a pharmacy,/ drug shop to buy medicine
Unfortunately, he/she cannot afford a complete dose. So the less than enough dose contributes to driving resistance against the same germ such germs then spread among the communities
With time we start reporting how infection due to resistant germs are contributing to poor outcomes including death in the setting
Even those able to go for treatment abroad are noted to have arrived with resistant germs, difficult to treat from this country ( this was reported at a National event)
Needless tomention that the ability to detect the problem early is compromised by limited support to consistently took for the germs among those with infection
A vicious cycle of problems!
Correction,:
Less than enough dose drives resistance against the drug by the germ ( being treated). Such germs spread among communities
Hello independent.co.ug admin, You always provide great insights.
Hello independent.co.ug owner, Your posts are always well-written and easy to understand.
To the independent.co.ug webmaster, Great content!
To the independent.co.ug administrator, Your posts are always well researched.
Hello independent.co.ug owner, Thanks for the well written post!
I found the post to be good. The shared information are greatly appreciated
To the independent.co.ug administrator, Keep it up!