Medicine Shortage due to Allocation Delay

Compiled by LIM WEY WEN, NG SI HOOI and A. RAMAN

THE recent medicine shortage at the Malacca Hospital was due to a delay in the Health Ministry’s allocation for the purchase of new supply, Kosmo! reported.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the rare incident began in September.

“The shortage is due to the ministry’s failure in releasing the rest of the yearly allocation (RM3.5mil) needed in September by the hospital to buy the medicines,” he said after being briefed by state health director Datuk Dr Azmi Hashim.

“However, the shortage only affected Malacca Hospital, not other hospitals and clinics in the state,” he added.

Mohd Ali said the situation worsened as the number of patients who sought treatment at Malacca Hospital had increased.

To meet their daily needs, the hospital had resorted to using “alternative” medicine besides sourcing for supplies from the Muar Hospital, Hospital Kuala Lumpur and other hospitals in Negri Sembilan.

He said Malacca Hospital received RM34.5mil in allocation, released in three instalments, from the ministry each year for medicines.

“I appeal to the ministry to immediately release the funds so we can resolve this issue,” said Mohd Ali.

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Medicine Shortage due to Allocation Delay