Masaka hospital frustrated by persistent drug shortage

Masaka Regional Referral Hospital is currently facing a critical shortage of essential medicines, exacerbating concerns over patient care and operational efficiency.

According to Grace Ojira the hospital drug store manager, the last shipment of drugs from the National Medical Stores was received on March 16, 2024, marking a two-month period of scarcity that has prompted outcry from caregivers and patients alike.

"We have not received any new supplies since mid-March due to issues at the National Medical Stores. This has significantly affected our ability to provide adequate care."

Patients at Masaka regional referral hospital are struggling to obtain vital medication with reports highlighting the severity of the situation. Rest Namujju, who suffered from hypertension, described the ordeal and acquiring medicine at the hospital as a nightmare, often resorting to purchasing drugs from external sources due to the hospital’s depleted stocks.

Caregivers at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital have voiced frustration over the hospital's inability to provide necessary medications. Many have reported being consistently turned away without treatment and instructed to procure drugs from external clinics due to the hospital's depleted stocks.

Encountered patients expressing frustration at the scarcity of medicines, which they described as "painful" and often leaving them without proper treatment.

"They don't give us the drugs we need. Every time we come here, they tell us to buy them from outside. It's becoming unbearable." Let us assume that you need drugs that cost 100,000 shillings, they give you only that for 20,000 shillings and they tell you to buy the rest but remember we came to government facilities due to lack of money.” Said Resty Namujju.

Masaka regional referral hospital provides health services to all the ten districts that make up the greater masaka sub region.

While speaking to Dr.Herbert Kalema, the gynecologist at MRRH, said the shortage has severely impacted patient care, with individuals, especially those with chronic conditions and expectant mothers, who were now compelled to purchase drugs and delivery kits independently due to the limited availability within the hospital.

“Expectant mothers and other patients are increasingly bearing the burden of purchasing essential medicines themselves, which compromises the quality of healthcare we strive to deliver.” He said.

Medical staff are grappling with the challenge of providing adequate care in the face of limited resources, further straining the already burdened healthcare system. “We face a lot of difficulties to provide health services to our people because here we receive people who are very poor when they cannot even afford a pair of gloves but in this situation, we solicit money from private wings but also getting it from there is a bit difficult.” Stated Dr.Kalema.

Efforts to resolve the issue have been hindered by delays in supply chain management, as acknowledged by hospital authorities. The situation remains dire as patients and caregivers await relief from the ongoing medication shortages.

Dr.Kalema also said that when NMS supplies medicine, it works for only one month and gets over yet they delay.

Grace Ojira, the store manager, told us that they promised to provide them with other drugs but all in vain yet the concerned people at the hospital have made excessive follow up.

"We acknowledge the critical shortage of essential medicines at our hospital. We are working closely with the National Medical Stores to expedite the delivery of supplies and restore normalcy to our services."

Patients and caregivers have called upon stakeholders for urgent intervention to address the medication crisis and ensure that patients receive the quality healthcare they deserve.

But according to our sources, Nation medical stores distribute drugs quarterly and when they get used up, patients and health workers have to wait for the next quarter.

On this matter, our efforts to speak to NMS failed due to unreachable phone calls.