QEH confirms surgery drugs shortage

A shortage of pre- and post-op drugs has caused the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to perform only urgent or emergency surgeries.

A press release issued Tuesday confirmed the story published in Monday’s DAILY NATION, which cited the shortage as well as a problem with a damaged gasket in the autoclaves used to sterilise surgical instruments.

There is a worldwide shortage of Fragmin and Clexane, which are used pre- and post-surgery to manage blood clots, and anaesthetic marcaine, as manufacturers are unable to satisfy demands.

Chief executive officer Dr Dexter James said the QEH was “working assiduously” with the Barbados Drug Service and pharmaceutical suppliers both here and overseas to solve the problem by next week.

The QEH has also launched an investigation into the autoclaves.

“While preliminary findings indicate that all autoclaves in use are in good working condition, concerns were raised around the sterility of surgical sets and their fitness for use in surgical procedures. This concern is of critical importance to mitigate infections during surgery,” the release said. (PR/SAT)