Boram facing drug shortages

THE East Sepik health authority (PHA) says it has shortage of antibiotics at the main hospital at Boram.
Chief executive officer Mathew Kaluvia told The National that it was a normal issue faced by many other PHAs and health facilities nationwide.
He said although there were enough basic medical drugs in stock to cater for the election period, there were some drug supplies that were not stock such as Paracetamol and instruments used for skin swabs.
“We get most of our supplies from our area medical store in Wewak,” he said.
Kaluvia said their oxygen supplies would not be adequate if there were to be a lot of election-related emergency cases.
He said this was due to the fact that the province had had an increase in the number of trauma cases where most of their oxygen supplies had been used in the operating theatre.
Another issue facing the hospital is the safety of hospital staff.
Kaluvia said a doctor on call last week was robbed at knife-point in the hospital premises.
“Such a behaviour by locals is totally unacceptable because hospital staff are here to provide medical help,” he said.
“A written circular has been sent out to the leaders of all the communities surrounding Boram Hospital to attend a meeting with me and the police this week to discuss security issues at the hospital.”
Meanwhile, Kaluvia said all medical facilities were aware of what to expect during the election period and would ensure medical supplies were in stock to respond to emergencies.