Fix supply system, says doctor

By LULU MARK
THE Health Department needs to strengthen its medical procurement and supply system urgently to prevent shortages at facilities, a doctor says.
New Ireland provincial health authority (PHA) director of curative health service Dr Penny Charles said despite orders being placed on time, medical supplies had not been delivered which resulted in a critical shortage that led to the announcement last Friday of a scale-down in services.
“The regional medical store has only 20 per cent of what we need,” he said.
“The contractors have not delivered our supplies.
“We have (taken this up) to the National Department of Health.
“They procure on behalf of the country and (so they) need to improve their approach and systems of delivery.
“Otherwise, they should give the money to PHA to procure medications while they regulate the suppliers
“We used the m-supply (electronic inventory) system and orders are placed timely, especially for the hospital.”
Dr Charles said the peripheral health facilities had received their health centre kits but it was the main hospital that was running short of supply.
“Our provincial government has made a commitment to assist us,” she said.
“The provincial government is in the process of procuring our supplies to cover for two months and allow outpatient to open as normal.”
Dr Charles said the issue of the regional medical store having around 10 to 20 per cent of what was needed by the hospital was an ongoing issue and needed to be addressed by the Health Department.