South doctors agitated over lack of drugs

Although pharmacists returned to work yesterday after several days of sick-out last week, complaints about a shortage of drugs for chronic ailments continued with doctors of the Medical Professionals Association of TT (MPATT) alleging that the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) was “lacking essential medication” last weekend. MPATT wants an investigation into the reasons medication was not supplied by the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). A shortage of drugs to treat chronic ailments was one of the grouses highlighted by pharmacists as they protested for better terms and conditions of work. In a release, MPATT said last Friday the SWRHA gave a commitment to buy and make medication available to all departments over the weekend.

“Lists were supplied by all departments within the hospital to the SWRHA outlining drugs that needed to be supplied to wards.” However, up to yesterday no medication was supplied to any ward. MPATT said all wards were without essential medication. It said some of the items requested by interns included asthma and cardiac medication, antibiotics, painkillers and fluids for intravenous infusions solutions necessary for cleaning wounds. MPATT said the SWRHA’s lack of preparation has endangered patients because treatment was being administered with inappropriate medication or patients were not receiving treatment because of the total lack of medication.

As a result, MPATT said patients must spend their own money at private pharmacies. Chairman of the SWRHA Imtiaz Ahamad could not be reached for comment. Communications officer with the North West Regional Authority (NWRHA) Danielle Jones said apart from the pharmacists who had scheduled leave, the “majority” of pharmacists were back to work yesterday at Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and health centres in the NWRHA. Commenting on any problems with drug supply, she said, “Our pharmaceutical supply is at optimal level. There were no reported instances of a shortage of drugs.”