No excuse for medicine shortage - Prof. Prasad

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says there should be no excuse for drug shortages at any health facility, and he will be taking up concerns raised in Labasa about the continued lack of essential medication with the Minister for Health.

This comes after the Northern Divisional Medical Officer, Dr Tiko Saumalua confirmed during Fijian Media Association's Meet the Public and the Press session in Savusavu that there are ongoing shortages of medical supplies and basic medication, including antibiotics and blood pressure drugs.

While responding to questions in the Labasa session on how effective the medicine supply system is in the Northern Division, Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Health has adequate funding, and the government has taken a number of steps to improve supply.

He says for the first time, a bulk storage facility has been opened at Labasa Hospital to cater for health centres, nursing stations and subdivisional hospitals across Vanua Levu.

The Deputy Prime Minister says a consistent issue has been the shortage of medicines in other parts of the country as well, but the government is tackling this head on.

He says the new mSupply system now allows doctors and nurses to inform headquarters in real time about the stock levels and supply needs.

Professor Prasad also revealed that the government has signed a new pharmacopoeia agreement with the Government of India to enable more consistent and affordable drug imports, which have already begun.

He says India has become a key pharmaceutical supplier to major countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and Fiji had not tapped into that market until now.

He confirms that Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has travelled to India twice to finalise these agreements, including a government-to-government arrangement to ensure consistency in supply and lower medicine costs.

While responding to another question about why medicines are still not available despite budget allocations, Professor Prasad admitted that clearly something is not working.