Health Ministry must ensure no anti-biotics shortage & explain why this predicament arose

MCA urges the Minister of Health Dato’ Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad or his deputy Dr Lim Boon Chye to come clean if our government hospitals are indeed suffering a shortage of anti-biotics and what countermeasures will be taken to ensure no disruption of supplies and treatment.

A survey run by Dr Timothy Cheng from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre with 56 respondents late December 2019 and early January 2020 showed 62 per cent alleging antibiotic shortages in their Ministry of Health (MOH) hospital over the past year, where some 39 per cent alleged that antibiotic shortages have occurred in their MoH hospital for the past one to two years (CodeBlue, 3 Feb 2020). This situation arose after Pakatan Harapan was swept into power.

Health Director General Dr Noor Hisham denies there is a shortage citing that MoH is controlling its usage.

Why should MoH withhold the usage of anti-biotics? These drugs are not for long-term treatment like HIV or hypertension but prescription-based as and when the need arises. Could budgetary slashes be the main reason for the anti-biotic shortages or for MoH to withhold its usage?

Perhaps the Health DG should take heed of his medical officers and nurses doing their rounds at public hospitals to obtain the real feel of anti-biotics requirements on the ground.

Worse still, when patients with flu-like symptoms are deprived of their medical needs, others around be they the nurses treating the patient or family and friends in regular contact with him/her also equally susceptible from contracting the flu, thus spreading it to others

Respondents also felt that the main reasons for supply shortage were lack of hospital budget, poor planning, and shortage from the main supplier. This shows the MoH’s top management team must improve from their poor organisation skills.

Or, is the anti-biotics shortage-or-control intentional as one method by Pakatan to enrich private pharmaceutical companies as patients are indirectly forced to purchase prescription drugs from private pharmacies?

The doctors surveyed have informed that due to the frequency which antibiotics have run out of supply in public hospitals, this has caused enhanced drug resistance, worsened patients’ conditions, and lengthened hospital stays, thereby preventing other patients of a bed in a government hospital.

Health is wealth and the Pakatan government should prioritise essential daily needs, assist patients to recuperate, heal and save lives rather than cost consuming laughable mega projects like the flying car.

Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon
MCA Deputy President

-MCA online-