Latest update December 21st, 2024 12:34 AM
GPHC dumps $49.498M of expired drugs
A total of $49.498M of expired drugs was dumped by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as at May last. This was highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report 2011.
During a recent inspection at the facility, it was revealed that there were 57 instances where expired drugs were at the facility, waiting to be dumped. 
The hospital, in its defence, said that some degree of expiration is inescapable in hospitals. “We are required to have drugs available at all times so we cannot afford to have shortage hence we risk overstocking with some degree of expiration.” However, the percentage of expiry drugs can create arguments about the efficiency of the system. One doctor said that the system ought to have issued drugs based on expiry dates.
This newspaper had pointed out the Auditor general Reports of successive years that chastised the Hospital and Ministry of Health for accepting late delivery of drugs from New GPC over the past three years, the supplier would have defaulted on delivery every year. While there is no information to verify the delivery dates vis-à-vis the expiry dates, there has to be an effect on the system of ordering and re-ordering, one Doctor said.
It was recommended by the Audit Office that GPHC conduct a study to assess the need for these drugs and more accurately determine their purchases.
Recently, the hospital was under fire for purchasing drugs from New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC) at exorbitant prices. One such drug was the anti-fungal cream, Ketoconazole cream which is being retailed in India, inclusive of taxes, for as low as $80 but was bought for $1909.
During a recent interview with one of the facility’s health officials, it was revealed to this publication that despite the hospital dumping so many expired drugs, there were many instances where the hospital was short of critical drugs. The system of re-order levels and trend analysis should provide for a good system of stock-management, especially since the main suppliers are Guyanese-based. The Auditor General’s report has pointed out that New GPC supplies more than 80% of total drugs procured for the Hospital – as well as for the Ministry of Health. In all instances the drugs are fully paid for notwithstanding late delivery by New GPC.
A Hospital official has confirmed that surgical sutures, operating materials, medications and kits to perform blood test were among some of the items that were unavailable.
The hospital had promised to launch an investigation.
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