Hyderabad: Junior doctors have flagged the issue of shortage of certain medicines in the emergency wing of government hospitals, as they have to face the anger of paients’ relatives. After the Global Hospital incident, where a patient’s family ransacked the premises and assaulted staff and police personnel, doctors in government hospitals are taking up the issue seriously as they have been frequently been subjected to such assaults.
Doctors say there is a shortage of adrenaline used for allergies among others, amiodarone, esmolol and metoprolol for heart conditions and painkillers like fentanyl, morphine, buprenorphine, tramadol, dexmedetomidine and pethidine.
Dr P.S. Vijayender Goud, chairman, Telangana Junior Doctors JAC, said there was a shortage of painkillers and antibiotics at the Osmania General Hospital for the past month in some departments. To avoid shortage, doctors should make a better forecast and secure the medicines.
Doctors, however, said that there was no shortage. Dr P. Naik from the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) said, “There are three or four brands supplying the same drug. There is no chance of complete shortage. Depending on the patient’s condition we prescribe different drugs. There are times when the company which has to supply the drugs does not send them on time due to technical reasons and hence there is a delay.”
Dr Naik said the hospital does not depend on one company for supplies. “We have alternative companies which supply the same drug,” he said.
Speaking especially about the shortage of certain drugs, Dr Naik said, “There are some restrictions as they are narcotic drugs. We have to apply for permission and get approval. If there is a shortage of one drug from one particular brand, it will be cleared within a week.”
A junior doctor on condition of anonymity said that they see at least 100 emergency cases every day, and there are times when the drugs are not supplied. “There are many times when we have to write the prescription and ask relatives to get the medicines. They are usually angry as many of them come from very poor backgrounds. Senior professors are not there in the evening and night. Managing the relatives in this situation is difficult and dangerous for junior doctors,” he said.
The incident at Global Hospitals has created a panic among junior doctors who are now taking up small issues with the senior professors seriously as they are finding themselves at the receiving end.
Dr Nagendra, Superintendent of OGH, said, “There is a mismatch between supply and demand. Sometimes there will be a demand for one particular drug. If there is any shortage, we procure it within two to three days.”
He said that in the case of tramadol, the injection category was changed. “We had to call for tenders and purchase them. Due to this reason there has been a delay. We also have an alternative drug with us for now,” Dr Nagendra said.
He said medicines are purchased in two ways, by the Telangana State Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation and through private agencies. “Eighty per cent of drugs are e procured from the corporation and 20 per cent by floating tenders. The scarcity is mainly due to lack coordination,” he said.
