CMS fails to deliver drugs and equipment

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Wednesday May 12, 2010 00:00

 

At a recent meeting Kittson Chimbalanga, Selebi-Phikwe Government Hospital Senior Pharmacist said the hospital has been operating for the past three months without thermometers as CMS has failed to adequately provide them with equipment and drugs.

'The decision to allow us to purchase from private pharmacies has not solved our problems because the medication that we require is not available locally. It must be sourced from CMS,' said Chimbalanga.

Recently there was an uproar at the government hospital when CMS ran out of high blood pressure pills after CMS failed to deliver the quantity ordered.

Speaking at the same meeting Assistant Minister of Health, Gaothaetse Matlhabaphiri, explained that CMS is currently being revamped to improve on efficiency.

Matlhabaphiri said government has engaged specialists to assist in the process. He also placed the blame on pharmaceutical companies that fail to deliver after CMS places orders.

He announced that two pharmaceutical companies would soon be set up in Selebi-Phikwe and Gaborone. 'They will start off by manufacturing drugs before engaging in other products. I guess their setting up will curb the situation of drug shortage in this country,' he said.

Matlhabaphiri went on to say that plans to build three new district hospitals in Selebi-Phikwe, Palapye and Francistown during the National Development Plan 10 have been halted due to the economic downturn. He said the construction would continue when the economy is normal.

'I have toured the facility and I have witnessed the situation that you are working under. It is indeed a health hazard. We intend to put this hospital under good condition while still waiting for a new structure,' he noted.

The Assistant Minister advised health workers to change their attitude towards patients. He explained that health workers are expected to heal patients not to abuse them. 'People have a bad attitude towards you because of the way you behave. That must change,' he said.

The superintendent of the hospital, Dr Jeff Shama, said the hospital infrastructure was old and needed to be renovated. He told the meeting that the hospital does not have enough storage to keep hospital property; hence it was lying around everywhere. 

Shama said wards need to be partitioned in order to control infectious diseases such as TB. 'We are planning to get some port cabins that can serve as offices,' said Shama.

He complained about shortage of staff such as plant operators and cleaners. Shama said there was serious lack of accommodation for hospital employees and all the 110 employees need houses.