HEALTH FACILITIES IN PAKWACH GRAPPLE WITH DRUG STOCK-OUT

ALFRED JAWOKO

PAKWACH: Patients seeking treatment from government health facilities in Pakwach district have expressed disappointment over the shortage of essential drugs.

The patients reveal that this has forced many of them to purchase drugs from private clinics which is very costly and inconveniencing.

Joyce Akum 56, who sought for treatment at Panyimur Health center III confirms the development, saying that she was advised to go and buy antibiotic drugs from the nearby clinic due to drug shortages at the facility.

She urges government to take the issue of restocking drugs in health facilities in the area as a matter of urgency.

Wilson Ogentho, a nother patient at Wadilai health centre III says people have lost hope in government health facilities, as shortage of drugs has persisted for quite a long while.

“We are so frustrated; we expect to find drugs in all government facilities but this is all in vain. We are tired of medical officers referring us to private clinics and pharmacies to purchase drugs,” he lamented.

In his response, Dr. Paul Ajal, the Pakwach district health officer says the district has run out of drugs and the last supply of consignment to the district was at the end of last year 2022.

“We have run out of all drugs, anti malarials, anti-biotics. We are supposed to receive drugs every two month according to the national drug authority schedule,” says Ajal.

Pakwach district has over 23 government health facilities struggling with shortage of drugs.

Attempts to get a comment about the matter from National drug store were futile as their phone was left un answered.