Picture: The shortage of medicine is a challenge
By REGINALD KANYANE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said he will address challenges raised by community members over the shortage of medicine at the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Sambatha said earlier during the week, members of the public complained that some of the health facilities in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District had run out of essential medicines.
He further said since the intervention of Section 100 (1)(b), the department has implemented a five-pillar intervention plan for medicine availability, which was preceded by an in-depth diagnostic assessment. Sambatha added that the focus of the plan has been on strengthening pharmaceutical operations at the district level as well as the capacitation of the provincial office.
“The intervention was followed by significant improvement in medicine availability with the Mmabatho Medical stores having resolved all previous bottlenecks. We assure the public of a remedial plan.
“I have assigned a team led by the Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Hospitals and Clinical Support Services and the acting District Chief Director to investigate the complaints of shortage. They will also prepare a report of medicine availability and more specific to chronic medication for the entire district,” he said.
Sambatha said they will conduct visits to the facilities of Matlosana in the coming week before Wednesday. He said they will also receive a detailed report from managers on Sunday.
“The department remains committed to rendering quality care by improving the availability of medicines at all levels of the services platform,” said Sambatha.
The Guardian 