-Ministry of health announces arrival of new supplies following 3 weeks of scarcity at hospital
-Shipment for provinces this week: Ministry
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Blood bags are back in stock and are in use, the ministry of health (MHMS) announced yesterday.
This follows three weeks of no blood bags available at the national referral hospital (NRH).
But, the shortage was felt two weeks prior, a senior doctor at the NRH told Island Sun on condition of anonymity on Monday, adding that a month earlier hospital authority had been informed of the dwindling supply of blood bags.
Despite this, hospital authority did not respond and three weeks ago the last blood bag was used, and people who came later to donate blood for their loved ones were told to go and pay blood bags from commercial pharmacies, the doctor said.
A citizen who requested to be called only by his first name, John, told Island Sun two weeks ago that he and his siblings were told they had to purchase their own blood bags when they went to donate blood for their mother who was suffering with cancer.
A nurse who was present confirmed John’s story but asked to not be identified.
“Since last week, we have run out of blood bags,” the nurse said.
Yesterday’s announcement by MHMS is bound to bring relief but the NRH doctor warns that this cycle of continuously facing shortages at the NRH will go on if the hospital authority carries on with its ‘reactive system’.
“Hospital authority are not proactive, reacting only to problems,” the doctor said.
“Therefore, under the current regime, the hospital will continue to face shortages of medicines and accessories, and public will continue to suffer during the shortage period, then hospital authorities will react and order new stock and make media announcements, then the cycle repeats when these new stock finishes,” the doctor said.
Yesterday’s MHMS media statement explained that the blood bag shortage had resulted from “a specification error during the procurement process that affected reduced blood supplies over the past two weeks”.
“Following successful discussions with the supplier and with now the replenishment of blood bags, routine services including blood collection, transportation, safe transfusions, and blood donation drives are now back to normal, providing essential support for patients across the Solomon Islands.
“The availability of these supplies is critical for the well-being of individuals who rely on blood transfusions due to medical conditions, surgeries, or emergencies,” the MHMS statement said.
Meanwhile, the MHMS statement said blood bags and other medicine supplies are also bound for other health centres around the country.
This implies that the problem of blood bag shortage is not restricted to Honiara alone.
“In addition to the delivery of blood bags, other general medical supplies are being prepared to be dispatched to several provincial health centres this week, to ensure continued access to healthcare throughout the country,” the MHMS statement said.
“Supplies will be dispatched this week to the following health facilities: Totongo Rural Health Centre, Nila in the Shortlands, Tingoa Area Health Centre, Bonala Nurse Aid Post, Pelau Nurse Aid Post, Tulagi Hospital, Kirakira Hospital, Taheramo Area Health Centre, Buala Hospital, Kilu’ufi Hospital, Malu’u Hospital and Seghe Hospital.”
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