CMD Laments Influx Of Fake Drugs Into Akwa Ibom
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Emem-Abasi Bassey, has warned residents of Akwa Ibom State against buying off-the-counter drugs, adding that recent events in the country had put the health sector in serious threat.
Bassey, who gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Uyo, said most of the drugs in circulation in Nigeria were mere “chalks.”
Bassey, an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, who cited the arrest of some fake drug manufacturers by security agencies in Lagos, advised residents of Akwa Ibom to buy drugs from hospital.
He stated, “I can’t assure you of what you’re buying; I mean, many of the drugs we are taking are mere chalks; they package them very well, but here in the hospital, what are we doing? We’re not necessarily looking at the prices, but we’re looking at the quality; we’re buying directly from the manufacturers.
“We’re not looking for middlemen; we’re buying from the manufacturing companies at their prices; and if the drugs expire, we destroy them. We don’t sell them again because that’ll be going against our core mandate as a federal institution.”
The CMD, who claimed that he was well versed in the problems plaguing the tertiary medical institution, gave an assurance that he was making efforts to tackle them so as to achieve the core mandate of the hospital.
He pledged to institute positive changes in the hospital, including punctuality to work, improve the attitude of the workers and the general staff-patients relations in the hospital.
Bassey, who is also the immediate past Commissioner for Health in Akwa Ibom State, acknowledged the problems the hospital was facing and solicited support from well-meaning Nigerians to tackle them.
He said, “Let me use this medium to appeal to the state government and any other person that can give assistance. I’m not a politician, I’m just a professional appointed by Mr President to do a professional job.
“Whether you’re in the APC or PDP, if you have an accident, like the elections are coming, you’re going to end up in the Accident and Emergency ward here. I’m appealing for help because 95 per cent of the people that come to this hospital are from Akwa Ibom State and that’s why I’m appealing for help from everybody.”
He stressed that the government alone could not fund the health sector, adding that the greatest problem bedevilling the sector was lack of finance.
“The bottom line is health system financing and the number one thing is health insurance. If that happens, the insurance companies will be able to pay hospitals and the hospitals will be able to maintain the facilities and provide quality health needs for the patients,” he said.
Patrick Odey|PUNCH.
