The alarm bells are definitely ringing loud and clear.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services needs to heed the worrying messages from the retired Dr Eddie McCaig.
The honourable line minister has much on his plate. The proper delivery of health care is on the wane for many reasons.
Neglect started many years ago. Failure is evident today.
I have, since April 2023, voiced my concerns about “shortfalls” in the delivery of healthcare at the Aspen Lautoka Hospital.
I wrote to the permanent secretary for health then. It has not gone any further since.
It is not my intention to go into details and long drawn-out repeats. In brief, following a health scare in mid-April 2023, my spouse still awaits an echo appointment with Aspen Lautoka Hospital. Clopidogrel Tabs 75 mg for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes were “out of stock” on September 26, 2023.
Nifedipine Tabs 20mg, for high blood pressure, amongst others, were also not available.
As retirees, we had no choice but resort to buy the above from private pharmacies. Sometimes, these “shocks” busted personal budgets. Poverty is real. Does anyone really care?
I recently wrote about several out-of-stock medications from the Nadi Hospital Pharmacy, and do not see a need to repeat them.
This is only the tip of the proverbial “health iceberg”.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services needs a great big helping hand from the World Health Organisation. Our ministry is not coping.
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