Unfounded attack on SFGH pharmacists

THE EDITOR: Please publish this as an Open letter to Hon Minister of Health. In reference to an article published in a daily newspaper dated Thursday September 11, 2003 under the caption “drugs shortage claims hilarious” as Senior Pharmacist at the Institution, I am taken aback. There is absolutely nothing hilarious about the drugs shortage at the institution. You indicated, “There’s no tracking system to show where the drugs go. It’s quite dangerous. There can be leakage, drugs might walk out of the hospital...there’s a lack of inventory control.” Your comments alluding to the Pharmacy Department are unfortunate. This sir, has brought disrepute and ridicule to the department more especially, the Pharmacists. You do not possess a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the daily operations at the department and therefore were deliberately misinformed or ill advised. A detailed knowledge of the department’s tracking, and inventory control, could have been furnished upon request, before a press release of that nature. Our logistics are well detailed and available. We ensure good distribution practices and have an obligation of proper inventory management. Quite apart from the one provided by NIPDEC officials.

The Pharmacy Department of the San Fernando General Hospital is a class above. We strive for excellence, and we achieve. Having alluded to mismanagement at the department you gave credence to the unfounded perceptions members of the public hold towards pharmacists. How can we be energised and continue to strive for excellence, to provide quality health care and improve service levels to clients? Please be informed, the problem at the Pharmacy Department is indeed one of drugs shortage, which cannot be attributed to pharmacists. The allocation and supply of pharmaceuticals is not a function of the Department. We cannot dispense pharmaceuticals that are not supplied to the department because of budgetary shortfalls.

In an effort to provide quality service, pharmacists are burdened by shortages. Pharmacists are blamed for not having the drugs by some members of staff, pilfering by members of the public, no tracking system, leakages, drugs walking out, and lack of inventory control, by you, the Hon Minister of Health. You have provided criteria that marginalise our efforts and demean the value of our intellectual output. We appear not to have mothers and fathers, and could be taken advantage of by all who come along. The orientation that suggests that “we are less than” does not contribute to achieving the 2020 vision, and the vision that “we have for our profession.” The daily communication bet-ween NIPDEC and the Pharmacy Department is about supply and demand, which is always inadequate and continues to be a thorn. This is no breaking news. This has always been with us, this year 2003, being the worst ever. Could this be as a result of the CDAP Programme? It is common when approaching the end of the financial year, cost containment because of budgetary constraints, arise. This therefore is no excuse to label pharmacists as “leaking walk outs.”

On Friday 12, 2003 members of the public, were openly saying to pharmacists, “The Minister say all you stealing the drugs that’s why we can’t get it.” This, Mr Minister is what obtains today, resulting in irreparable damage. The above article also indicated, “up to today, NIPDEC received a request from the senior pharmacist, and they’ve already supplied the required drugs.” Please be informed, the requisitions were dated (in August), and not as was suggested. It is true to say, the information you received from NIPDEC officials was inaccurate and misleading. An accurate documentation can be furnished to you upon request. An unsupported, injudicious attack was made against pharmacists and supporting staff at the San Fernando General Hospital based on inaccurate information. As head of the department, I am saddened. I am fortunate to have a competent and reliable staff. A staff I am proud to supervise. In addition, the pharmacy department has an open door policy and share a healthy and professional relationship with the Hospital Medical Chief of Staff, and the Hospital Administrator. Collectively, we strive for excellence and will continue to do so.
Presently, the morale of the pharmacy staff is bruised and some reparation should be made.

MRS LEAFLET RYAN
Senior Pharmacist
General Hospital
San Fernando