AusAID delivers medical supplies

AUSAID  started a massive delivery of drugs and medical kits on Tuesday in the National Capital District, with the Port Moresby General Hospital receiving its first delivery of 74 boxes.
At the request of the government, AusAID bought 10,000 medical supply kits, which will provide more than 700 referral hospitals and health centres and 2,000 aid posts with a year’s supply of essential drugs and medical supplies.
AusAID health and HIV programme director Dr Geoff Clark said previous studies had shown that drugs in the country either did not contain the correct amounts of active ingredients, or contained none at all.
“The outcome of this procurement process is that we have purchased a large quantity of drugs that we know will make people better,” Clark said.
Present to receive the medical supplies were hospital chief executive officer Sam Vegogo and representatives from the hospital’s medical services division.
Vegogo said the shortage of drugs in the health sector had been an ongoing problem in the country.
He said the health department had to implement procurement reforms that would cut the likelihood of drug stock outs. 
“There needs to be an effective distribution system in place to deliver essential drugs and supplies to the door of over 2,700 health facilities in rural PNG,” Vegogo said.
He thanked Australia for the drugs and medical supplies.
“I am thankful to AusAID in helping PNG to establish a new semi-autonomous health procurement authority.
“This is to ensure the right amount of drugs and supplies find their way into rural PNG in the most economical way available,” Vegogo said.
Clark said the kits were bought from the International Dispensary Association, which meant they were quality assured.