Need for more investigations on drugs shortage

I wish to react to the article, “Drug shortage hits Kigali”, (The New Times, January 8). This article seems to be incomplete to me. The investigator should have visited the hospitals’ pharmacies to see if no medicines are available on the shelves and also check some re-supply points. It is easy to also check on their stock cards. This one tells when a product was dispensed (distributed) the last time. Additionally, a visit to Camerwa (now MPD) should have been organised. It is not appropriate to say’’ Drug Shortage hits Kigali hospital’’ in your article with this little evidence. The title is really questioning the efficiency of the Rwandan Health System, yet the body doesn’t confirm this shortage. Please improve your methodology to lay down more evidence.Patrick, Kigali -------------------------------------I would advise using PharmEMR System like the one used at Butaro hospital. It is an Electronic Medical Record System that greatly helps the hospital to manage its medics and avoid stock out of medication. Partners In Health has specialty in this and can be consulted. Many thanks.Emmanuel, Burera District------------------------------------This article only scratches the surface. I suspect there is a much bigger issue. And when people get defensive as is the case with some of the comments, it just raises more questions. Can someone explain where the exact problem is? Is it the type of insurance or lack of? Is it the availability of drugs? Is it poor management? Is it the lack of payment? Or just lapses in communication. Let’s be clear and get to the bottom of the problem. Attacking the journalist does not help as they are only messengers. It’s not the time for blaming each other but rather seeking a solution. The Rwandan government has invested heavily in the health sector; ordinary Rwandans ought to benefit. We should not run away from the fact that there are patients who are not getting medication from the hospitals. That’s what needs to get addressed. Concerned Rwandan, Kigali---------------------------------------There is nothing wrong with the article. It’s just a glance of the crisis in the health sector.Jojo, Kigali-------------------------------------------There is something that I don’t understand with this situation at Kibagabaga Hospital. Why does the Director say, There is a type of medicine called specialty that we never have so we always tell patients to get it from outside the hospital’’ A specialty (drug) is a branded product, however, it has most of the time (besides those still under patent rights) an equivalent called a Generic. He also says “We are not out of stock of generic medicine but we don’t provide specialty medicine.’’ Why does he have to tell patients to go and get specialty (drugs) in private pharmacies while we know these are expensive compared to their equivalent…generics? Does Kibagabaga Hospital want to keep their generic stock, but make sure the specialty (drugs) from the private pharmacies are bought? Why not prescribe the generic, give them to patients since they are proven to have the same therapeutic effects as the specialty ones? Who is paying back the price? The patient of course...Maskini!Patrick, Kigali

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Need for more investigations on drugs shortage