By Alfred Sasako

THE National Referral Hospital (NRH) is still without blood analyser machines, despite government assurances that the storm over drugs shortage has blown over, it was revealed this week.

“The NRH is without blood analyser machines. Clinicians are now relying on a private laboratory and manual analysis, which takes a lot longer for the result to come through,” sources told Island Sun.

Despite the urgency to get the machines, the procurement requirements by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in buying the machines are adding delays to these life-saving machines to Honiara, NRH Chief Executive Officer, Steve Aumanu, told Island Sun from Fiji on Wednesday night.

“For reasons of wear and tear over prolonged heavy usage, three laboratory analysers broke down at different times during the last 6 months. This is unusual and very unfortunate,” Dr Aumanu said.

“These analysers are: 1 Haematology 2. Biochemistry and 3. Electrolyte,” Dr Aumanu who is on annual leave told Island in an email from Suva.

“NRH Laboratory services are affected and tests are being done manually or are being sent to VanuLab (private lab) for analysis whilst steps were taken to find funding to procure new replacement analysers,” he said.

“Other tests not at all done here have always been sent to Australia.”

“The services provided to NRH by the VanuLab are at times irregular and costly but they are analysing patient blood tests in the meantime and supporting the NRH Clinicians,” Dr Aumanu said.

He blamed reduced funding for what is what is happening at the NRH, which he said was allocated only $3 million in our Development Budget for 2018 which has been used for other priorities at the beginning of 2018.

“This is the budget line for such capital Medical equipments,” he said.

“Faced with this no-funds problem, I sought direct consultation with the Prime Minister’s Officials to source direct funding approval to purchase these three life-saving analysers.

“In less than a week, through a cabinet paper; Cabinet approved funding under Contingency Warrant (CW) of about NZ$238,200.00 to purchase the three analysers.

“This cabinet approval was confirmed in the second week of July.

“I was extremely happy but it is the SIG Procurement process/ Finance instructions that must be complied with and that frustrate everyone. The procurement process is now being progressed through Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“These analysers will require REAGENTS to function. There is SBD$2M for this sitting with National Medical Stores budget which must also be sourced separately to procure these specific reagents.

“Again, I am doing the right things always with concern and urgency but the normal Finance, Procurement compliance SIG systems are beyond my control,” Dr Aumanu said.

“… if NRH ( CEO) has powers over its own budget; I can react briskly to the regular emergencies occurring at NRH without having to face these delays which are unacceptable for a Hospital.

“There is so much that needs to be done for the NRH ( I can give a whole lecture on these needs) but there is not enough resources allocated to it every year in the budget. In fact NRH Budget continues to be reduced.

“Maybe the recent medicines & supplies ‘commotion’ and the NRH Visit by (the) Prime Minister was an opportunity for the public to demand better resourcing to Health and NRH,” Dr Aumanu said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ACTING City Mayor Eddie Ngava has called on members of Parliament to step in and render support in the national issue – medical drug shortage.

He expressed this sentiment at the officially handing over of medical supplies by Namson Tran (MP for West Honiara) to three clinics in his constituency.

Ngava said the donations of the medical drugs are from one MP but if the 49 others step in with the same initiative it will lessen the country’s medical crisis.

“Hence I hereby challenge the other Parliamentarians who if on their own way rendered support to our clinics in each of the constituency then we’ll have gone a long way,” he said.

The total cost of the medical drugs is $250,000 and this amount of money came directly from Tran’s personal funds, purposely to help address the country’s drug shortage problem.

The three clinics Tran supported are Mbokona Clinc, Rove Area Health Centre and Whit River Clinic.

The medical drugs supplied to Mbokona Clinic include; Benzathine Penicillin injection 24s, Cloxacillin Capsules 250mg 1000’s, Cloxacillin Susp 125mg/5ml 100ml,Sterile Water for injection, Needle gauze #23, Salbutamol inhaler 5mg 500’s, Crepe Bandage 10cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 7.5cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 5m x 1.5m, Procaine Penicillin 24’s, Paracetamol 500mg 1000’s, Paracetamol 100mg 1000’s, Septrin tablet 480mg 1000’s, Cotton Wool roll 50g, Ibuprofen tablet 200mg 1000’s, Magnesium Trisilicate tablet 1000’s, Zinc Oxide plasters 6’s.

Rove Clinic with; Amoxicillin Capsule 250mg, Amoxicillin Suspension 125mg/5ml, Benzathine Penicillin 24’s, Chloramphenicol Eye Drop, Cloxacillin Capsules 250mg, Cloxacillin Susp 125mg/5ml , Cotton Wool roll 25g, Cotton Wool roll 50g, Dispensing Bags (ctn), Guaze Needle #21, Guaze Needle #23, Ibuprofen tablet 200mg 1000’s, Paracetamol 500mg 1000’s, Parafin Gauze, Penicillin V tablet 5mg 500’s, Zinc Oxide Plaster, Prednisolone tablet 5mg 500’s, Procain Penicillin 24’s, Salbutamol inhaler, Septrin/Cotrimoxazole tablet 480mg 1000’s, Sterile Water for injection 5ml, Crepe Bandage 10cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 7.5cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 5m x 1.5m.

White River clinic with; Cloxacillin Capsules 250mg 1000’s, Cloxacillin Suspension 125mg/5ml 100ml, Amoxicillin Capsule 250mg 1000’s, Amoxicillin Suspension 125mg/5ml 100ml, Erythromycin Tablet 250mg 1000’s, Benzathine Penicillin injection 24’s, Salbutamol inhaler solution 5ml, Chloramphenicol Eye Drop, Crepe Bandage 10cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 7.5cm x 5m ,Crepe Bandage 5m x 1.5m, Ibuprofen tablet 200mg 1000’s, Sterile Water for injection 20’s, Cannula Yellow 25 gauze.