The high cases of theft at various government hospitals nationwide is as a result of prohibitive prices for medical treatment as well as ballooning prices of medicine.
Following reports that a number of hospitals have been badly affected by theft of drugs and theft by staff members and patients, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare says the issue is now its top priority and efforts are being made to stop the practise.
“Most of the stolen items including drugs find themselves on the streets where they are sold to unsuspecting members of the public,” said the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa.
He warned members of the public against buying such medical drugs and equipment.
“Often patients complain that they are not responding to medication when in actual fact they will have been exposed to fake or drugs that have not been stored in proper conditions,” he said.
Recently there have been reports that at one of the country’s hospitals thieves stole mercury in incubators for premature babies, resulting in the death of the babies.
Other hospitals have reported stolen door handles, cardboards as well as syringes and cotton wool among other things. – Own correspondent
Post published in: News