Acting CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Louise Bobb doesn’t think drug suppliers left the institution “out to dry” even though some have put a freeze on deliveries because the QEH owes them $20 million.
“The suppliers are also our partners,” she told reporters during a news conference at the Ministry of Health yesterday.
“I want to stress that. We have been working with them throughout the years. It is just that this time we are at a point where the whole country is feeling the brunt of an economic crisis. . . . I would never sit here and say we are left hung out to dry by our suppliers. When the situation warrants and it is dire enough and it comes to life and death, they answer the call.”
She added: “We are not going to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that we don’t have cash flow problems. We do – and everybody does.”
Minister of Health John Boyce told reporters yesterday “more monies” had been received from the Ministry of Finance “and we are directing those payments to the most urgent suppliers”.
Chief pharmacist Basil Bradshaw says 57 drugs are being withheld by the suppliers – Collins Ltd, Biokal Ltd, Brydens Stokes, Pharmacy Sales, RX PRO and Armstrong Health Care – until they are paid.
The drugs are said to cater to most ailments including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, depression, thyroid complications and kidney failure. (TY)
