Drug shortage forces Alotau Hospital to cut back on operations

The Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority admits it has been running on below average drug supplies much of this year and is urging Milne Bay’s general population to stay healthy, make wise choices, and to take care during this time.

Their situation came to a head when frustrated surgical doctors last week in a social media post that went viral, revealed they were asking families of patients needing surgery to source their own consumables before they could proceed.

The Alotau Provincial Hospital has reluctantly issued scaled down service to its operating theatre, a measure they are taking not to compromise on the lifesaving service they provide, due to a lack of drugs.

In fact, this action came to light after doctors at their surgical unit were forced to ask patients to acquire consumables for operations to proceed, given the hospital’s situation.

t’s not a one off situation, the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority contends it’s a situation likely experienced nationwide.

In a post that went viral a week ago, a frustrated surgical doctor posted, and I quote, “…the surgical team is writing prescriptions for patients needing emergency operations today to buy their own boxes of fluids, boxes of gloves and boxes of iodine bottles,” end of quote, implying this is before any surgery can proceed, a single post that exposed the dire situation the Alotau Provincial Hospital is in.

It’s what the provincial hospital has endured to keep services going. Drugs and laboratory reagent supplies are the responsibility of the Department of Health, supplied nationwide through their area medical store directly to hospitals, health centers, and down to aid posts too.

Dr Frank confirms their monthly orders have not been met 100 percent, resulting in supplies below operational levels.

He says the hospital is left to make do with what they get each month, and because this is not on their budget, it affects their other activities when money is diverted to source drugs to keep operations going, one being their quarterly annual visits to health centers and aid posts to maintain standards.

It’s why they are now urging the public in Milne Bay to make healthy choices, be wise in keeping safe and to help themselves if they can help it, during this time.