– following protest action by nurses over shortages

THE Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) will now obtain its supply of medical drugs from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as a temporary measure to address issues of shortages which led to protest action by nurses.

Nurses attached to LHC on Thursday downed tools as a means of protesting the shortage of drugs and other medical supplies that is preventing them from effectively carrying out their work.

About 50 nurses at approximately 09:00hrs assembled in the Out-Patient Department (OPD) and refused to work until the management of the hospital put an amicable and tangible solution on the table. The nurses, many of them members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), were supported by the Industrial Relations Officer of Region 10 Maurice Butters who was present.

In a statement the Public Health Ministry said it is currently addressing the issue at the LHC. The ministry explained that on March 6, 18 and 21, the LHC ordered medical supplies from the Materials Management Unit. On March 6, they received 16 out of the 24 items requested; and on March 18, they received 91 items out of the 174 requested.
“It is usual for the LHC to purchase drugs and medical supplies whenever there is a shortage but as a result of poor forecasting the medical institution has already spent all the money allotted for the first quarter of this year,” the ministry said.

It added: “The Ministry of Public Health has begun to put necessary measures in place to correct this anomaly. Currently, the ministry is in the process of clearing some containers of some key medical supplies. The management of the LHC was never notified of the intended ‘sit-in’ by the Guyana Public Service Union or its Linden representative.”
One nurse who opted to remain anonymous said that the situation is more than a yearlong one and while management may be trying their best to correct same, it is she and her colleagues who have to face the public and receive criticism for not being able to provide the needed service.

“Is we have to face the patients and this is the only way that this can be solved because year come and year go and is the same thing,” the nurse lamented.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Butters said that the nurses have voiced their disapproval on the way things are going especially the timely requisition of drugs and supplies, some of which are available in the hospital’s bond.

“It is a sad situation; yesterday I was at a pharmacy making a purchase and a young lady with two children presented to them a prescription from the hospital for drugs for the children. She had to get two bottles but when she heard the price, she could have only bought one. I think the hospital is there to ease the poorer set of people who can’t afford, the pensioners who cannot afford to buy medication which is costing them between 5-10 thousand dollars, so I am hoping that we can have some positive response from the ministry because the management is blaming the ministry,” Butters told the media.
The Industrial Relations Officer said that the nurses have been trying their best to cope with the situation for quite some time and working beyond the call of duty and it has reached the stage where they cannot continue.

Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Mohammed Riyasat, immediately met with the nurses after hearing about the sit-in and explained to them that management is aware of the situation and it has been addressed at the bi-monthly section heads meeting and that management is pursuing all possible avenues to have the situation rectified.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) Toshanna Allicock said that subsequently, management held a teleconference with Minister Lawrence and Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako, and a decision was made to have LHC temporarily acquire drugs from the GPHC until a permanent solution is decided. The first set of these drugs – critical drugs and medical and surgical supplies – were transported to Linden from GPHC on Thursday afternoon.

When quizzed on what is the cause for the shortage, Allicock said that some of the drugs are not available for purchase and some are not available countrywide.
“One of the issues that we are having is the timely release of funds from Ministry of Finance (MoF) to purchase the drugs like critical drugs so what happens is though we will get drugs from the MMU, we are also allotted a certain amoint of money to purchase critical drugs and we are having that hiccup,” Allicock said.

She further explained that the MoF is now requiring critical information before releasing funds and the process in now lengthier. The management of the hospital will be meeting with the staff on Friday to update them on the issue.