Transcript
SAM YOCKOPUA: Well, drug shortages, we've been trying to address those issues. On the 25th of April, we did a paid advertisement warning the people, warning the government, the Department of Health, that drug shortages are a problem. And that was six weeks ago when we were warning the public. Now six weeks later about eight hospitals have actually shut their doors, or partly shut down for emergencies only. And at the trend at which we are going, by the end of this month 90 percent of the hospitals will shut down," he said.
JAMIE TAHANA: 90 percent of hospitals in Papua New Guinea may shut down at the end of this month?
SY: Absolutely correct, because I know the statistics. I've studied from Sanduan province, in the northern part of the country, to the autonomous region of Bougainville. I've consulted every member on the ground, and I've got evidence to prove it.
JT: So this is a very severe drug shortage. Just what are you lacking?
SY: OK, we know which medicines are quickly used up. Anti-biotics are quickly used up. Anti-inflammatory and painkillers are used up. Anti-malarials are quickly used up. Consumables like bandages and face-masks and gloves... you know if you're giving IV fluids, those are things that are used up very quickly. And if we're not replacing those as fast as the use rate, then obviously we run short. And so there are three major problems. Number one, the supply distribution has been privatised and the pharmaceutical company that was distributing in the past, it (its contract) came to a conclusion last year. We were supposed to get a new tender in place. We know that in PNG, the tender process takes time, it's complex, it's politicised, it is highly technical, and so it takes at least a minimum of six months. And so if we are still yet to outsource or tender the pharmaceutical distribution (contract) and we're saying that everything is being done, will be done, that's a complete fabrication. There's no way in PNG that we will frustrate that tender process.
JT: Where does the fault lie in this, how have you got to the situation where tenders have stalled, where 90 percent of the hospitals in the country are looking to close by the end of this month, and that you've gone months without basic drugs or supplies?
SY: That's where we as the National Doctors Association are coming in from. The government has introduced free healthcare, and they're actually put off any little bit of the charges that they usually charge to the patients.
JT: So the money's not coming in from the patients, but the government's not paying it either. So free healthcare, but no one is paying for it.
SY: Correct. So three things. The tender has been delayed.... since December last year. Number two, the usual budget reallocations for the hospitals, the money is not getting in. What they're getting is maybe about ten percent or so. So they're not getting the adequate budgeted money to run the hospitals. Number three, because of the free healthcare policy, what they normally charge, a little bit of fees from the patients like for example for prescription medicines, like one kina for one, or x-ray for two kina, something like that... now, no fees as such. Everybody's in free. So effectively no money generated by the hospitals to buy urgent consumables or medicines. So they are high and dry. They've been trying to keep their head above the water, but the government is pushing their head into the water, drowning all health workers and hospitals.
JT: With all this going on, what has the government said? Surely you've spoken to the Health Minister, Michael Malabag? What have they said in regards to this and have they promised to do anything?
SY: All I can say is that we don't have money. If we had money, all of these things are easy. Because there is no money, we are unable to do so. Therefore these guys will continue to come up with excuses after excuses, they will say this and that. But what clinicians, doctors are telling - that's the truth.
JT: You're now threatening to strike?
SY: Well, next Tuesday, we will give them 30 days. 30 days for the government to make sure that the tender process has been outsourced and we know that it's working. Number two, in 30 days time we've got to make sure that all hospitals have got money in their accounts. And number three, they must waiver, they must get rid of this free healthcare policy in the meantime so that hospitals can generate a little bit of income to survive while waiting for all of the above to happen. So we will give them 30 days. Failure to do so, all of these doctors will go on strike. That's going to happen.
JT: For how long?
SY: Indefinitely until these things are done.
JT: What percentage of doctors in the country do you represent? How many doctors may walk off the job if this is not done within 30 days from Tuesday?
SY: 550 doctors from the top of the country to the autonomous region of Bougainville.
JT: So you're all unanimous in this, you'll walk off the job if the government doesn't come through?
SY: At the National Doctors Association, we work as one single unit.
JT: Right and what does this mean for the healthcare of people in a country with severe health problems?
SY: We will deal the emergency and dire situations only. But all the routine services will be shut down, 30 days notice.
