Acting Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong has confirmed that blood pressure medicine, Enalapril has been ordered and paid for but the shipment is still being arranged.
Fijivillage has received information that the supplier is still trying to get the shipment across from India.
Doctor Fong says they will also be reviewing alternative drugs for high blood pressure which is available in stock locally.
Fijivillage has contacted a number of corporate pharmacies in the country who say Enalapril has run out of stock but they have an alternative brand of the same medication made in New Zealand available in stock.
Doctor Fong says in the review, they will see whether the alternative drug is suitable for patients and he will then be forwarding these details to the Ministry of Health’s Head of Pharmacy.
Meanwhile Health Minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete has confirmed that specialists and senior doctors have been advised to look at alternatives as other high blood pressure medications are available.
The Health Minister also says that as with other countries in the world, Fiji’s main challenge is the global supply chain limitations that delays the shipment of items into the country.
Doctor Waqainabate and Acting Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong confirm that a number of Fiji’s medication orders have been paid for but cannot be shipped over.
Doctor Fong confirms that with the beginning of the new financial year, they are continuously raising new orders over and above the orders under pending shipment.
He also says at this time stock piling is something we need to endeavour for.
The Acting Permanent Secretary for Health also says there are items such as Metformin, Glipizide, Atenolol, Insulins and Amlodepine which are available. They are in the process of distributing them.
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