Priest decries drug shortage

Father Richard Deschenes of the Catholic Church’s Mzuzu Diocese has attacked government for failing to provide basic medical services to the poor, arguing it is not reflecting well on its welfare for the people.

Deschenes’ sentiments have come in the wake of patients being asked to buy medication from private pharmacies after being diagnosed in public hospitals such as Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH).

The priest, who has been helping a number of patients that have been asked to buy medication, expressed disappointment at Nation Publications Limited (NPL) Mzuzu Newsroom in the company of one of the affected patients, Elinet Munthali, 72, of Bibinyu Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mtwalo in Mzimba who was asked to buy medication for her heart condition.

Deschenes said it is high time government stopped ill-treating its people. He said he could no longer keep quiet and see people being ill-treated by their leaders when the citizens pay tax.

He said it was painful to see government sending well-to-do officials to hospitals abroad for proper treatment and when the poor masses get sick, they are asked to buy medication for themselves.

He said government has to look after its citizens no matter their status.

Munthali said she could not believe that officials at the hospital would ask her to buy the drugs. She said the drugs are expensive and to support her condition, she sold her chickens.

“My son, I have suffered! The drugs in question are not cheap, they cost about K1 500 each. I sell chickens at K700 but, I don’t have any chickens left to sell and buy the drugs,” said Munthali.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Henry Chimbali referred the matter to MCH spokesperson Twambilire Simukonda who claimed that the hospital had essential drugs in stock and that there were no cases of people being asked to buy the medication.

However, when asked if he was sure about his claims, he said he needed to check if people were being asked to buy drugs in private institutions.