The lack of proper coordination between various departments of the Government General Hospital here came to light in the early hours of Monday when certain drugs could not be found in the paediatrics department and emergency ward of the hospital here.
An 18-month-old boy was brought to the GGH with a severe gastric problem and swelling of stomach. The duty doctor Praveen prescribed Acinil - O Syrup, an oral suspension, but this was not available in the pharmacy of the hospital, either in the ward or the emergency ward. The parent of the patient tried to get it from other medical shops in the city, but to his surprise it was not available anywhere.
None of the so-called 24X7 pharmacy retail outlets were open at that time, around 12.30 a.m., in the heart of the city. This gave some anxious moments to the parents of the child as he was continuously crying till 4 a.m. The doctors administered Rantac, another higher line of drug to keep the situation under control.
Superintendent reacts
The parent has put this entire ordeal in the social media apps and, on Monday morning, the GGH Superintendent M. Ramaswamy Naik called the paediatrics department head Malleswari and duty doctor Praveen and took their explanation. He told the mediapersons that this particular combination drug – Aluminium Hydroxide and Oxethazaine (Acinil-O) – was not available with the GGH as it was not purchased by the government (APMIDC) under Rate Contract.
He, however, said most of the essential drugs were available at the emergency ward pharmacy.
Later, when the indent was checked, some of the drugs needed by the paediatrics department were either not requisitioned from the Central Drug store or some of them not purchased and the hospital Superintendent said that coordination among all the wings was essential to maintain proper stock of all essential drugs as even private pharmacies were not open at night.
Drug Assistant Director Chandra Sekhar Rao told The Hindu that there was no stipulation that pharmacies had to keep the shops open 24X7, but those voluntarily selling throughout night had to employ three pharmacists in three shifts.
There are around 200 pharmacy outlets in Anantapur city.
