Makira faces severe drug shortage, posing health risk to patients

By Alfred Pagepitu

The health situation in Makira-Ulawa Province is facing a critical crisis due to a severe shortage of essential drugs, according to Dr. John Harara, the Makira-Ulawa Provincial Health Director.

Dr. Harara explained that Makira-Ulawa Province has three second-level medical stores, with Kirakira Hospital being the main one and two sub-medical stores in Tawaraha, West Makira, and Taheramo, Ulawa.

“The drug capacity that we currently have here at the Kirakira Hospital is below 50 percent,” Dr. Harara revealed.

The health director said they normally conduct weekly audits to measure the drug supply situation, and they have noted that the supply of drugs coming into the Kirakira Hospital is very low. 

This problem is even more severe in the communities outside the main hospital.

One common drug that is affecting the community at this stage is Antimalarial drugs.

The hospital also has patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) who need regular medication, but the supply is insufficient.

“The incidence of malaria in Makira-Ulawa Province is very high and continues to rise. We have run out of Coartem, Primaquine, and other first-line malaria treatment drugs,” Dr. Harara explained.

As a result, people in the province are now turning to traditional herbal medicines as their last resort, as they struggle to access the necessary malaria medications.

Dr. Harara called on the people of Makira-Ulawa Province to take responsibility for their health by cleaning their villages, environments, and plantations to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. 

“Health is everybody’s business, not just for medical staff. We all need to be responsible and take care of ourselves, as we are currently experiencing a shortage of drugs,” he said.

Earlier in June, 11 containers that contained essential medical supplies such as cotton wool, crepe bandages, disposable syringes, and medications for managing various health conditions. 

Last month, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) received urgently-needed medicine and consumables worth $500,000 from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). 

In parliament earlier this year, the Minister of MHMS, Dr. Paul Popora, has assured that his ministry is working to address the issue of drug shortages in the country.

SIBC is seeking comments from MHMS on the current issue and updates will be provided once information is provided.

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