No shortage of medicine, says Kapavore

MINISTER for Health and HIV/AIDS Elias Kapavore, pictured, says there is no shortage of medicines.
“We would like the general public to know that the country is not faced with medicine shortage currently,” the minister said in response to the The National’s front-page report last Friday.
He said the Department of Health was monitoring stock levels of all basic and lifesaving medicines which had been required by the public health facilities to ensure that the medicines are in stock in the five area medical stores in the country.
“According to statistics, there are 75 per cent of the commonly used medicines.
“This information is based on the recently established Suppy system.
“The system tracks all stock levels and which medicines are on order at any one time. Kapavore said that people should now understand that the Government through the Department of Health is working hard to ensure that basic and lifesaving medicines are available at all public health facilities at all times.
“I must inform all that the Department of Health is working hard to ensure that stock-out of basic and lifesaving medicines are minimised by closely monitoring stock levels, placing orders efficiently and following up with suppliers for timely delivery,” he said.
“To assist manage medicines, the Department of Health with support from the University of PNG, School of Pharmacy have established and trained pharmacy assistants to manage and place timely orders for medicines.
“In addition, where stocks are not available in any part of the country, we are redistributing stocks of medicines from one Area Medical Store to others that may be facing shortage.”