Health ministry debunk claims of medical shortage at Rundu

The Ministry of Health and Social Services say operational inefficiencies led to a temporary inconvenience with certain medicine shortages at Rundu this year.

This is in response to a recent article published by The Namibian.

The article says patients have raised concerns about shortages of some medical supplies such as malaria kits, bandages and anaesthetics.

According to ministry of health spokesperson Walter Kamaya on Friday, evidence gathered shows the hospital has malaria kits available.

“However, the patient was seen over the long weekend and at that time staff had run out of malaria testing kits,” Kamaya stated.

Kamaya said instead of going to collect kits from other departments, the nurses indicated that there were no kits available.

“Over the long weekend, the pharmacy clinical supplies is closed,” Kamaya noted.

He said the casualty department orders and reserves stock for acute and emergency cases.

“The patient came for a redressing of an old wound, and he was advised to either go to the local clinic within the hospital or to come the following day if he wanted to be redressed in casualty,” added Kamaya.

He said all medicines are ordered when required by pharmacy departments, and then dispensed to patients when needed.

“No medicines are knowingly kept in the store and not dispensed to patients when required,” Kamaya said.

He said this incident is not the norm.

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