Drug shortage at Valaichenai Hospital

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 July 2000, 15:01 GMT]
The Government hospital in Valaichenai which serves nearly 38,000 people from more than 50 neighbouring villages is affected by shortage of drugs as supply for the third quarter of this year has not been sent, hospital sources said.

Patients are now being given prescriptions to buy drugs from private pharmacies. However, a large number of poor villagers in these areas are unable to buy the prescribed medicines at high price the sources said.

The hospital is also experiencing shortage of Doctors and other medical staff as vacancies are yet to be filled, according to the sources.

Emergency patients are asked to seek treatment at the Batticaloa hospital, which is about 32 km. south of Valaichenai. However travelling during the night-time could be dangerous due to security reasons and patients have to wait till dawn before they are transported to the Batticaloa, the sources added.

This rural hospital has been serving thousands of people from Valaichenai, Oddamavadi and Vaakarai region. Government hospital in Vaakarai was closed down in 1990 and there is small community hospital at Mancholai in the Oddamavadi.