Medicine shortage affects health services in Madang

Sixty- nine rural aid posts in Madang Province remain closed because of lack of medical supplies.

Another fifteen health clinics are yet to receive their supplies for the final quarter of this year.

A senior health official in Madang says the aid posts are in three most difficult districts of Raikos, Middle Ramu and Usino-Bundi.

Dr Martin Daimen, Director Public Health of the Madang Provincial Health Authority, says, “drugs to aid posts are supplied by the health centers in the districts.

''The supply chain is the main problem drugs and other medical consumables are not reaching facilities on time.” he said

This year, the Madang Provincial Health Authority used more than half a million kina of its operational funds to purchase medical drugs from pharmacies.

This was done to keep its facilities operational whilst waiting on the contractor, LD Logistics to deliver their supplies.

The shortage is due to supply chain from the national level to the regional medication stores and to the transit stores."

LD Logistics is the responsible contractor for the Momase region.