Madang provincial hospital scales down services
The Madang provincial hospital will begin an indefinite scaling down of its services today due to a critical shortage of essential medical drugs and other consumables.
Chief executive officer of the Madang Provincial Health Authority, Dr Martin Daimen, announced through a circular yesterday that the management has taken this drastic measure due to the ongoing shortage of essential drugs at the provincial hospital.
The decision to scale down services was reached on Tuesday during a meeting of the hospital's senior executive management team.
Dr. Daimen explained that these measures will remain effective until such time there are adequate medical supplies in stock.
"The management decided to scale down some services and operations in certain areas of the hospital due to the constant shortages of vital and essential medical drugs, plus other items at the Area Medical Store in Lae," he said.
"The decision was made in order to reserve the limited medical drugs and consumables for very critically ill patients until normal supplies are received from the AMS in Lae."
In the meantime, Dr. Daimen added that the management is working on acquiring some medical items to supplement the supplies and is also seeking assistance from partners and stakeholders to assist where possible.
During this period, Dr. Daimen outlined the following measures would be taken at the respective sections of the hospital.
For the Public Outpatient and Dental Clinic, Dr Daimen said services should focus on emergency cases only but should assist the public with prescriptions to buy medicines at private pharmacies in town.
However, he stated that all emergency referrals must be first communicated to the emergency physician and his delegate for further action to be taken. He added that ambulatory service is also suspended and will attend to emergencies only to be attended to by the respective specialist team.
Day clinics, including TB, HIV and dental, will remain open to the public requiring prescriptions for medication. TB and HIV clinics should be opened to serve medicines to continuing patients only.
For the Labour ward, the CEO said it is unable to operate without specialist medical supplies, hence is unable to cater for all patients currently, and therefore; we appeal to all normal cases to seek services at the Yagaum Lutheran Health Centre or the Catholic- run Alexishafen Health Centre, or any nearest clinics convenient to them.
The Emergencies and Operating Theatre will suspend all elective surgeries, and focus will be given to emergencies only. Patients are encouraged to purchase critical items from retail pharmacies during this time.
Meanwhile, all hospital wards are being directed to discharge all stable patients immediately and attention given to critically ill patients only. Hospital ambulances can assist repatriate patients along the highways only or within an hour of driving.
The radiology and pathology units should be opened to inpatients and emergencies only during this time, whilst the hospital pharmacy will be opened as usual but may reserve medicines for inpatients and discharged patients only. Most patients will be required to purchase medicines from retail pharmacies in town.
For the physiotherapy, Dr Daimen said it will be opened to the general public, but staff will attend to hospitalised patients only.
The CEO also emphasised that all staff are required to be at their respective work stations on official hours of duty or as per shift rosters to assist the general public where possible.
Dr Daimen urged the Hospital Executive Management and responsible managers to ensure the above measures are implemented accordingly and that they must provide feedback in a timely manner until such time the situation at the hospital improves.
The Madang Provincial Referral Hospital is a level facility that takes in referrals from neighbouring provinces of East Sepik, Manus, and Morobe.
It is also used as a teaching and learning hospital by students from the Medical Faculty of Divine Word University, nursing students from the Lutheran School of Nursing, which is now a campus of the Lutheran University, as well as students from the PNG Maritime College.