HEATH Minister Sasa Zibe was made aware of the scam involving anti-venom drugs at the Health Department, and decided to appear on the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s documentary to expose corrupt practices within his department.
An official in Minister Zibe’s office said the minister went to a certain pharmacy (named) in Port Moresby last year and asked for an anti-venom vial, which was sold to him over the counter for K2,500 while the scene was secretly filmed.
The official said the transaction was strictly done with cash as bank cards and other forms of payments were refused.
“There were no records of the transaction such as receipts issued to the buyer (Minister),” the official said.
The ABC documentary is to air next week, highlighting irregular practices within the Health Department.
Meanwhile, a senior pharmacist said the problem of having no snake bite anti-venom vials in stock had been an on-going problem over the past 10 years.
He said on numerous occasions the Badili base medical store responded with nil stock when he placed orders for the antidotes.
“I am happy and angry about the report in The National yesterday; happy because the problem has been brought to public attention, and angry because my colleagues in Badili have spoilt the good name of those of us who are working and abiding by the general orders,” he said.
He said last year he had only one anti-venom vial in stock, which he sent to Port Moresby General Hospital to save the life of a snake-bite victim.
The theft of medical supplies and corruption within the Health Department runs into the millions of kina at the expense of good health and lives of the people, he said.
Minister Zibe wanted to reinvigorate the Health Department’s medical supplies branch and has issued a ministerial directive to assess how best medical supplies can be delivered to health facilities.
Medical supplies branch will be separated with the procurement and distrubtion function to be outsourced.