BY SURESH PERERA
With tender procedures going haywire as a result of what industry officials termed as "interference by persons with vested interests", a critical dearth of sterile and examination gloves, syringes and cannulas have hit government hospitals placing lives as risk as even dengue-related cases cannot be effectively treated.
Just as much as sterile gloves are mandatory for surgical procedures, dengue patients, most of whom are children, cannulas are a life-saving device in the process of treatment, medical sources explained.
Cannulas in the 24-20 size range, which are required to treat children with dengue, are not available even at Osu Sala, the sources said. "It is a distressing situation".
A shortage of this magnitude has never disrupted the workings of hospitals in recent memory, they asserted. "Patients are being asked to buy them from outside pharmacies, but most of these outlets do not generally stock the slow-moving sterile gloves".
With tenders in a spin as political lackeys attempt to push through their favorites for bids, the whole supply process has virtually collapsed, industry officials charged. "They are also making a fast buck on costly local purchases".
‘We are battling to cope with the situation as, let alone other necessary medical supplies, even a syringe is not available", said a hospital official. "When the sick die, then we are held responsible".
"Apart from a police probe and internal inquiries, we also earn the wrath of relatives when patients die when their lives could have been easily saved, he pointed out. "Are we to tell them there were no vital medical supplies?"
"There is a grave shortage and we are trying to make emergency local purchases, wherever possible to tide over the situation", a Health Ministry official conceded. "It is a costly exercise, but there is no option".
The dearth should ease within the next four to five days, assured Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe, Director, Medical Supplies Division (MSD).
There is a delay in the delivery of supplies by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), he said. "We are moving in the matter".
While there is a dire need for life-saving sterile gloves, a key supplier who had provided consignments for six consecutive years is being pushed from pillar to post as an ‘interested party’ wants to take over the lion’s share of the market, trade sources claimed.
As a ‘punishment’ every consignment of their gloves is being subjected to a costly quality test, which in turn holds up the whole process, they said. "Why this sudden move when what they had supplied for so long was recommended and accepted by surgeons?’
There are attempts to drive genuine suppliers to the wall, they said. "When they elbow out the credible players, the shady operators can move in".
A tender for the supply of sterile gloves was supposedly awarded to a certain company as it was the lowest bidder last week, but there is speculation in the market that it will withdraw allowing the second in line — obviously an interested party — to qualify, they asserted. "This is part of the game".
The threat on the life of Dr. Ajith Mendis, Director-General of Health Services by a junior intern on the Minister’s personal staff, was also linked to a tender deal, as exclusively reported in The Sunday Island recently.
How was it that a consignment of sterile gloves with the government emblem printed on the reverse of each pack brought down by a local agent from a supplier in China?, the sources queried. "It is illegal to use the government emblem in private businesses but the stock has come through the Customs as well".
SPC should be streamlined as the delays there are unacceptable, the sources said. "Bidders who supply the SPC are left kicking their heels as clearing the paper work is frustratingly agonizing".
Officials there complain of too much work, they noted. "This has added to the mess up".
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