LÜDERITZ – Residents of Lüderitz have been complaining about the pharmacy at Lüderitz State Hospital having been without hypertension drugs for two months in a row, endangering lives.
Patients are saying the medical dispensary at the hospital has been without Perindopril (Coversil) that helps reduce high blood pressure. Some patients say the shortage has compelled them to go and purchase the tablets from a private pharmacy, which costs about N$180, as they cannot stay without this crucial drug. Going without the drug could result in a stroke or even death.
Some local community members and staff from the hospital also complained that although the Lüderitz State Hospital is blessed with four doctors, those doctors are too relaxed and sometimes they are not on duty and patients go for up to two days without treatment. Even when doctors are available, patients go for hours without being attended to.
The affected patients have been requesting the regional councillor to visit the hospital to assess the situation, which they describe as “critical” and to see what could be done to improve the worsening situation.
When asked for comment, a senior doctor at the hospital, Dr Davis Nkalamo confirmed, “It is true that Lüderitz State Hospital went for two months without one of the main tablets for high blood pressure, which was out for stock.
“It was not only the hospital in Lüderitz but it a countrywide problem but that type of tablets are now available in the hospital.”
Regarding the complaint about the unavailability of medical doctors, Nkalamo explained that even though the hospital indeed has four doctors, they also have to attend to medical emergencies at Aus, Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund but are only able to do so once a month.
Additionally, the Lüderitz State Hospital only has two doctors working at a time, one at the clinic while the other one is at the hospital most of the time.