Drug shortages

Letters

DRUG shortages has been in existence for many years and under different governments watch. It will continue to do so unless we find a better solution in PNG.
The current contract awarded to Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd is the first biggest contract made to a company under the watch of James Marape as the new Prime Minister.
The contract signed is only for a year.
The health facilities are facing drug shortages again throughout the country and concerned bodies such as the National Doctors Association (their concerns are legitimate) need to be mindful as much needed drugs are on their way to the country in two weeks time, according to the health secretary.
I run a private practice in Lae and already patients from smaller clinics are coming with their treatment chart/prescriptions for common medicines as arthemeter, primaquine tablets for malaria, probenecid and azithromycin tablets for sexually transmitted infections, eye ointment to name a few basic medicines that primary health facilities should have in stock.
The suggestion that the Health Department should have its own drug procurement department is a good idea.
However, we did have that arrangement 15-20 years ago and it failed miserably to deliver so the government, in its wisdom, had outsourced it.
We can revisit the arrangement.
Drugs and medicines are generally expensive and right now we need good quality and affordable ISO requirement and WHO sanctioned (quality control tested) drugs to be brought into the country to save people from preventable deaths.
At this point in time the tenders board, health secretary and minister are satisfied that BPPL (a nationally owned company) met all the requirements, including quality medicines to be brought into the country, and was awarded the contract.
My suggestion to the NDA is to allow this contract to go through but to have an input in the next major procurement exercise as any delay in the legally binding contract can further delay accessing of much needed medicines and endanger the lives of many innocent Papua New Guineans.

Dr Banare Bun
Lae