Hospitals grapple with lack of key drugs and supplies

KMPDU Mombasa's secretary Dr. Ghalib Salim Ali. [File, Standard]

A dire shortage of essential drugs has hit public health facilities in Mombasa and Kwale counties.

Local health workers say they have been compelled to advise patients to purchase drugs and supplies from private facilities. This is happening as the devolved units blame delays in procurements for the shortage.

According to Dr Ghalib Ali, Mombasa branch secretary of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU), among the drugs that are missing include ceftriaxone, flagyl, paracetamol and tramadol.

He narrated to The Standard how he had to improvise to assist an expectant mother at Likoni Sub-county hospital. "I had a pregnant woman due for delivery. From 6am, she had not delivered and we were preparing to take her to theatre. I was infuriated because I was informed there were no drugs, even anesthesia to perform the CS," said Ali.

He said lack of drugs in hospitals across the Coast entered its second week. "If you go to all hospitals from dispensaries to Coast General Hospital, there are no essential drugs like antibiotics and painkillers that any patient is prescribed on. We have been informed that the drugs will take two weeks to arrive. Now patients are suffering and forced to buy drugs from chemists at high prices," said Ali.

Mr John Mari, a resident of Bamburi who had brought his sick wife to CGH, said all the four drugs the doctor prescribed were not in the hospital chemist.

"If I bought the drugs from the hospital chemist it would cost me Sh350, but out here the drugs cost an arm and leg. I have paid Sh2,000 for them. Why is the government not stocking drugs in the hospitals yet we are heavily taxed?" posed Mari.