Phikwe Hospital Runs Out Of High Blood Pressure Drugs

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday March 29, 2010 00:00

 'This is a referral hospital and we get referrals from clinics in the region and the drugs were wiped out quickly. The problem is with CMS because they failed to supply us with the quantity we require. Right now, we have placed another order of 1,700 packets but I know we will not get this,' he said.

Sukube explained that Nifedipine comes in two types - the XL and the normal drug. He stated that there can be a negative reaction if a patient does not take the drug for a month or two.

Meanwhile, the hospital management came under heavy criticism from Selebi-Phikwe councillors for locking the gates of the facility.  

Hospital Ward councillor, Odirile Kelebetse called on the hospital management to unlock small gates at the back of the facility to give residents of Pimville and Orlando locations easy access. He complained that the hospital is in a bad state and patients receive poor service from staff. 'Wards at the hospital are not partitioned and there is no privacy for patients. The roof is also leaking in most of the wards. The hospital staff is not delivering as expected and most of them are demoralised,' he said. Kelebetse said the hospital needs renovation because its buildings are old. Leseding ward councillor, Leungo Mathaio said the hospital does not have clothes and bed linen for patients. She stated that the laundry machine has not been repaired since it broke down in 2008. This means the laundry is done at the Mmadinare Primary Hospital and this is  inconvenient. In response, Sukube said the concerns raised by councillors are being addressed by the management.

Selebi-Phikwe Town Council senior public relations officer, Ogomoditse Gaokgethelwe said council clinics are not experiencing drug shortages. She said that if they fail to get any drug from CMS, they procure from local pharmacies or from areas such as Palapye.