Outraged over ‘drug shortage’ at SMC, patients asked to buy drugs from private pharmacies
Many patients are upset over the alleged shortage of medicines at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and health centres across the Kingdom as, according to them, buying medicines from private pharmacies is something beyond their financial capabilities. Sources say many surgeries were even postponed due to the shortage of an anesthesia drug called Brofiv at SMC.
“Drugs that are currently unavailable include aspirin, medicines for anaemia and diabetes, hypertension, muscular weakness and multiple sclerosis. Simbikort Spray and medicines for prostrate enlargement are also in shortage,” the sources said.
Speaking to Tribune, citizen Zahra Al Muhairi said it is a matter of shame that the authorities did not bother to secure aspirin stocks. “My sick mother has been prescribed aspirin. About a month ago, the health centre people told us that the drug is unavailable and since then we have been buying it from private pharmacies. “How can we afford this? My father suffers from a stomach disease, the medicines for which are as well available,” she said.
Zainab, a Bahraini mother, said even vaccination drugs are unavailable at health centres. “This is ridiculous. I wanted to get my son vaccinated and they have asked me to go after two months,” she said.
The Ministry of Health provides medicines through two main tenders: the unified Gulf purchase tender, which provides about 80 per cent of the ministry’s needs of medicines, and the local tender covering 20pc of the pharmaceutical needs.
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