Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Health has come out to clear the air on the availability of eye drops and ointments in public health facilities.
In a statement, the ministry’s Communications Officer, Nsindiso Tsabedze, has assured, contrary to recent media reports, eye drops and ointments were available at public health facilities.
“The Ministry of Health would like to clear the air in relation to the news of a shortage of eye drops and ointments in Eswatini, this said to be affecting mostly privately owned retail pharmacies. We would like to make it clear that this shortage does not adversely affect the public health sector,” said Tsabedze.
He disclosed that their Central Medical Stores (CMS) does have stock of various eye drops. These, he said, were available at selected public health facilities which offer optometry services, particularly the Mbabane Government Hospital where they have eye specialists.
“While we do not have all variants of eye drops, the CMS has the following items on stock: Acyclovir Eye Ointment 3%; Atropine Eye Drops 1%; Chloramphenicol Eye Ointment; Ciprofloxacin Eye Drops 3mg/ml; Dexamethasone Eye Drops 0.1%; Dexamethasone-Chloramphenicol Eye Drops; Dorzolamide Eye Drops; Gentamycin Eye Drops 5ml; Pilocarpine Eye Drops 2%; Predinisolone Eye Drops 1%; Sodium Cromoglycate Eye Drops 4%; Tetracycline Eye Ointment 1%,” he explained.
Tsabedze added that there were a few eye products which have just run out of stock at CMS, and the Ministry was working to close such gaps. Importantly, he said they do not procure Allergex Eye Drops, among some other products which are normally found at retail pharmacies.
He said they were aware that eye health products of the Allergan brand have become scarce, and were still establishing the reasons so that they could look for alternatives where need be.
“The Ministry of Health would like to assure the nation that eye health is among our top priorities, therefore we will continue to do all we can to strengthen our eye health efforts. Meanwhile, the Optometry Units/Eye Clinics at Mbabane Government Hospital, RFM Hospital, and Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital continue to service the nation with all eye health products available in their stock, and they offer quality optometry services, including screening and specialised services.”
For anything above local capacity, Tsabedze said they refer clients to specialists in other states through Phalala Fund.
