The Sunday Mail
MAJOR referral, district and provincial hospitals countrywide are operating without essential drugs, putting lives of patients at a high risk, it has been established.
Health and Child Care Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Nyasha Masuka said the hospitals had less than 40 percent instead of at least 60 percent drug stocks.
The acute drug shortage has largely been attributed to the prevailing economic challenges, which has crippled NatPharm whose mandate is to store and distribute the essential drugs.
Medical practitioners said the shortage of anaesthetics has resulted in suspension of life-saving medical operations, risking the lives of thousands of patients.
Dr Masuka said: “Broadly, the classes of medicines that are in short supply in most hospitals are intravenous anti-biotics, aesthetics, anti-psychotics and some intravenous fluids.
“The shortage of drugs in hospitals is as a result of limited fiscal disbursement as well as the inability of the patients to pay user-fees.”
A medical doctor who preferred anonymity described the shortage as dire.
“There is a serious shortage of essential drugs in most hospitals, in fact the situation is pathetic.
“Most hospitals have basic drugs such as paracetamol and amoxicillin with Harare Central Hospital being the most affected institution.”
Harare Central Hospital chief executive officer Ms Peggy Zvavamwe declined to comment on the issue.
Ministry of Health and Child Care officials told The Sunday Mail that at least 99 percent of drugs were donor-sourced through the Health Transition Fund and European Union with Government contributing a small percentage. Government plans to improve the availability of essential drugs through capital injection into NatPharm and support to other local pharmaceutical companies. Under the Zim-Asset economic blueprint, capacitation of pharmaceutical companies is one of the key points to address drug shortages.
