Latest update November 23rd, 2024 1:00 AM
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Large quantities of dangerous drugs stolen from state
– Pethidine, Morphine included
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, has her work cut out for her. It has become obviously urgent that Lawrence needs to put strict measures in place to reduce or if possible eliminate, pilfering by employees in the health sector.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence
While a figure has not been put, it is safe to state that millions of dollars in dangerous drugs have been stolen from the state. Information about the pilfering was released when Lawrence responded to written questions posed to her in the National Assembly by Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill.
Minister Lawrence was asked if she had information about employees of the Ministry of Health, and, in particular the Materials Management Unit (Diamond Bond) or the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) being complicit with contractors or suppliers of pharmaceutical and medical supplies in defrauding the state.
She was also asked to state what actions have been taken to investigate the allegations. She answered in the affirmative, insisting that there have been such cases of thieving.
Lawrence indicated that there was pilfering of drugs at the Materials Management Unit. She said that an employee was found with vials of insulin in his possession. Police were called to look at the matter. Lawrence said that the unidentified employee was subsequently arrested and placed on bail.
She said that he never reported for duty thereafter and the matter is still engaging the police. Lawrence said that the Ministry has since put measures in place to stop pilfering.
West Demerara Regional Hospital also had incidents of pilfering. The identities of the two accused were also protected in this instance. Lawrence said, “The Pharmacist and his wife were working in the main drug bond. A visit to the bond by the Ministerial Task Force found some discrepancies in the manner in which the dangerous drugs were being stored and accounted for.”
She said that the Task Force returned to the hospital in February and found that the drugs ledger had been tampered with. Figures were retraced, numbers were changed.
Lawrence said that the unnamed Pharmacist could not give account for several ampoules of the Pethidine, Codeine and Morphine in his possession.
The police were subsequently called in and both the Pharmacist and his wife were arrested. Lawrence indicated that the matter is still engaging the police.
Codeine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. The drug is used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. It is stated that Codeine can slow or stop breathing, and may be habit-forming. The drug is only supposed to be used as prescribed.
Misuse of narcotic medicine can cause addiction, overdose, or death, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
Morphine is also a narcotic med. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Formulations are taken as needed for pain and so is Pethidine. Both are highly addictive drugs.
Dangerous drugs of this sort were also sent to Suddie Hospital but according to Lawrence, drugs sent to that location never arrived.
She said, “The Ministerial Task Force visited and found that some of the drugs never arrived at the hospital. The Pharmacist could not give account for several dangerous drugs and had not been making entries in his dangerous drugs ledger since 2015. This matter is till engaging the police”
Another case was highlighted but this time in New Amsterdam. Lawrence said that the Regional Pharmacist attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital was charged and placed on bail for pilfering but was never interdicted from duty. This staff member has now been sent on leave to allow for an investigation.
Further, Lawrence said that the Commission of Inquiry report has listed names of employees from the Ministry of Health—Procurement department who have been complicit with contractors.
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