KABUL (Pajhwok): About 80 percent of prescribed medicines are given to patients free of charge in public sector hospitals in Kabul, the Ministry of Public Health said on Monday.
Pajhwok Afghan News prepared a report on free distribution of medicines at the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Jamhoriat, Antani and Malalai Maternity hospitals in Kabul.
Relatives of patients expressed happiness about the improvement of health services, especially free medicines.
Relatives of patients: Most medicines given free
Zabihullah, an inhabitant of Kabul, whose brother underwent a surgery in Jamhoriat hospital, told Pajhwok: “My brother had an umbilical hernia, his operation was done today. We are satisfied with the services provided by the hospital, especially medical services, we received medicine free of cost.”
He hoped that such services in all hospitals of the country would improve.
Nasruddin, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, whose son is suffering from meningitis disease and is admitted to the infectious diseases hospital in Kabul, said his son was given medicines for free and services in the hospital had improved.
Anita, a resident of Kabul, who had brought her sick daughter to the Indira Gandhi Children hospital, said: “My daughter has been coughing for two months.”
“I brought her here and doctors examined her for TB and gave her medicine. The medicines were provided within the hospital and I’m happy with this kind of service,” she added
Mah Iabeen, who gave birth to a child in Malalai Maternity Hospital, said: “My baby was born yesterday and I underwent an operation. The hospital gave us all the medicines needed.”
She added: “One of my children was born three years ago in this hospital, we bought all medicine at that time, even syringe, from outside. Now the services of government hospitals have improved a lot.”
Dr. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, told Pajhwok: With the return of the Islamic Emirate, Alhamdulillah! Progress has been made in all sectors and facilities have been created for our compatriots.”
He said medicines were available in all hospitals and every patient received them in Kabul public sector hospitals.
“In most of rural areas where clinics are available, they did not give medicines to patients previously, but currently more than 80 percent of medicines are given to patients free of cost.”
He said these medicines were given to patients with the help of various international institutions such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and some other aid organizations.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Umar Elham, pharmacy manager at the Jamhoriat Hospital, told Pajhwok that 90 percent of medicines patents needed were given inside the hospital, compared to 50 percent in the past..
According to him, medicines being given to patients free of cost have been provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Mohammad Saber Hotak, General Manager at the Antani hospital’s pharmacy, said about 300 patients of malaria, meningitis, diarrhea and Congo infectious diseases from Kabul and provinces daily visited the hospital every day and they were given 95 percent of medicines they needed free of charge.
Referring to jaundice patients as an example, he said: “Jaundice medicine is very expensive, its patients come for treatment continuously for up to a year. The medicine is available and they get their medicine from the hospital every month.”
Also, Atta Mohammad Zindi, pharmacist of the Indira Gandhi Hospital, said that 80 percent of medicines were given to patients within the hospital compared to 40 percent two years ago.
He said up to 500 patients with various diseases daily arrived at their hospital and sometimes they faced a shortage of medicines.
According to him, only high-priced antibiotics are not available ins the hospital and patient buy them from outside.
Fawzia, pharmacist of Malalai Maternity Hospital, said: “Currently, 80 percent of medicines are available in the hospital and we usually face no shortage of medicines, but in some cases, due to the large number of patients, we run out of medicines and patients have to buy them from the market.”
“Out of 21 types of drugs in the operation theatre, we ask relatives of patients to buy only five of them from outside and 19 of them are given inside the hospital.”
Health experts
Prof. Shahla Hamidi, a professor at Kabul Medical University, said that better management and the increased international aid were the reasons behind the improved hospital services and distribution of medicines free of cost
He said giving free medicines to patients was a good move in the current situation when people’s economy had deteriorated. In Aliabad hospital in Kabul, 80percent of medicine were given to patients within the hospital, hoping the same services would continue and health services would be even further improved.
sa/ma
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