Bridgetown.
Six pharmaceutical companies have stopped supplying drugs to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) pending payment of outstanding monies.
Last week, chief pharmacist at the QEH, Basil Bradshaw informed the chairperson to of the QEH's drug and therapeutics committee in a memo that 57 drugs were being withheld by the suppliers Collins Ltd, Biokal Ltd, Brydens Stokes, Pharmacy Sales, RX PRO and Armstrong Health Care until they were paid.According to the memo the six companies were owned over $20 million by the state run hospital.
The unavailability of these drugs, say doctors, means that the care of patients, primarily those with critical chronic non communicable diseases in particular, could be compromised leading to complications, greater ill-health, and in worst case scenarios, possible death.
In a memo last Thursday, chief pharmacist Basil Bradshaw informed the chairperson of the hospital’s drug and therapeutics committee that 57 drugs were being withheld by the suppliers – Collins Ltd, Biokal Ltd, Brydens Stokes, Pharmacy Sales, RX PRO and Armstrong Health Care – until they are paid.
“Attached is a list of drugs which are currently ‘out of stock’ in the pharmacy department. These drugs are not out of stock locally but are being withheld by the suppliers,” Bradshaw wrote.
The drugs cater to most ailments including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, epilespsy, pregnacy, sinusitis, depression, thyroid complications and kidney failture.
