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Some asthma sufferers in Gozo have been in a state of panic over the past month because the hospital dispensary ran out of Ventolin, the inhalant that is so vital for asthma patients to breathe properly.
While Ventolin and other alternatives are available at privately owned pharmacies, many Gozitans, especially those less well off, rely on their supplies from the state hospital.
Visiting week after week over the past month a 36 year old-unemployed asthma sufferer who spoke to this newspaper, but preferred not to be named, was turned away again and again by the Gozo hospital dispensary without explanations given.
It is not clear why stocks of the important medicine was not brought over from the Malta hospital and the ministry for health replying through the Office of the Prime Minister would only say that the shortage was “due to transportation problems which have now been overcome.”
It would seem that problems are related to difficulties with flights that transport the medicine.
However, the health ministry said: “There is no particular problem with the supply of medicines. However, from time to time there is the occasional shortage. One must bear in mind that Government procures a great number of medicines and medical supplies and hence such problems are bound to occur every now and then.”
A week and a half ago, 12 August, health minister, Dr Louis Deguara told MaltaToday he was informed that the situation will return to normal and that the medicine would be available at the Gozo hospital “within a few days.” However, the Ventolin was not available up to Friday 20 August. When MaltaToday once again contacted the ministry, Friday and was told: “transport is being provided from the Gozo hospital to pick a consignment this very morning. By tomorrow morning (Saturday) it will be available to patients.”
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