The Ministry of Health has issued a warning about an imminent shortage of medicines in hospitals, attributing the concern to the non-acceptance of approximately a hundred medicines and items by the Medical Supply Division. This unsettling situation is a result of recent developments, including the detention of the director of the medical supply division in connection with Immunoglobulin injection fraud and the hospitalization of the deputy director.
The absence of key officials in pivotal roles within the Medical Supply Division has created a void in the acceptance process, raising alarms about a potential crisis. A ministry spokesperson emphasized the urgency of appointing suitable officials to these vacant positions and issuing clear guidelines promptly. Failure to take immediate action is expected to lead to a significant shortage of drugs in hospitals across the country.
Compounding the issue is the regular practice of halting the acceptance of supplies approximately three weeks before the year-end warehouse audit. The spokesperson highlighted the importance of maintaining an adequate supply of medicines in the warehouses of the medical supply department, especially during the critical month of November before supply acceptance is discontinued.