Okahandja state patients without critical medicines
Okahandja State Hospital is facing a severe crisis, with nearly all essential medicines out of stock since June, leaving 94.6% of patients without critical treatment.The worrying situation was highlighted by Okahandja deputy mayor Akser Aupindi following his visit to the hospital on 12 August, after an inmate reportedly refused to return to a police holding cell without his medication.
Aupindi said he found the hospital pharmacy “largely empty”, and raised the alarm over patient safety and public trust in the healthcare system.
“The absence of critical medications jeopardises lives and undermines public confidence in our healthcare system,” Aupindi warned in a letter to health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao, warning that lives are at stake if urgent action is not taken.
The list of out-of-stock medicines includes life-saving drugs such as sodium valproate, olanzapine, augmentin injections, phenobarbitone, child vaccines and neonatal solutions.
Barely adequate
Limited supplies of amiloride HCTZ, multivitamins and carvedilol remain barely adequate to meet daily demand. In contrast, fluconazole 200 mg capsules are reportedly overstocked.
“This alone guarantees that the hospital is only open for workers to get their salaries, not to render services to our people. We cannot allow our people to go through this,” Aupindi stressed.
The crisis is compounded by logistical failures, with both of the hospital’s ambulances out of service, the deputy mayor added.
Staff rely on a government bakkie to transport patients – a stopgap measure that is unsuitable for those needing incubators or emergency care.
Aupindi has urged government to immediately restock essential medicines and restore the hospital capacity. Failing that, he suggested temporarily shutting down the facility until a sustainable solution is found.
“As leader of the town, I will mobilise residents to demand the closure of the hospital until a clear plan is provided on how the situation will be resolved. I believe that is the only language you understand,” he noted.
Ministry of health spokesperson Walters Kamaya did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.