Police impound excess drugs
Oct 11, 2009
THE Police in Gulu on Wednesday impounded eight boxes of Coartem, an anti-malarial drug.
By Patience Aber
THE Police in Gulu on Wednesday impounded eight boxes of Coartem, an anti-malarial drug.
The seized drugs were worth sh420,000 and were suspected to have been smuggled into the district by health officials.
The eight boxes were seized from Aywee Health Centre II after it was discovered that the number of boxes recorded on the delivery note for the drugs were fewer than those delivered to the health centre.
“While the delivery note shows that 40 boxes had been delivered, we found that there were 48 boxes, so we impounded them. We are investigating the circumstances under which the drugs were packed in excess,†Richard Omona, a special police constable in charge of Aywee Police Post, said.
The Gulu deputy resident district commissioner, Milton Odong, whose office monitors drug deliveries, said a similar incident occurred recently.
“This happened at Badege and Liyibi health units. Close to 15 boxes of the same drugs were delivered in excess under the guise of an oversight,†he said.
When The New Vision contacted the municipal health officer, Dr. Ongom Oola, he denied any possibility of drug theft, arguing that the problem arose out of irregularities in packing and documentation.
“Our stores officer is new on the job. He does not double check his work. It is like working in the bank. You have to be very keen especially when there are so many deliveries to be made,†he said.
Residents of Patiko sub-county have written to the resident district commissioner, complaining that health workers were stealing drugs from public health centres and using them in their private clinics.
A 2007 investigation unearthed theft of drugs worth millions of shillings from the National Medical Stores (NMS).
NMS is responsible for supplying drugs to government hospitals and dispensaries countrywide.
THE Police in Gulu on Wednesday impounded eight boxes of Coartem, an anti-malarial drug.
The seized drugs were worth sh420,000 and were suspected to have been smuggled into the district by health officials.
The eight boxes were seized from Aywee Health Centre II after it was discovered that the number of boxes recorded on the delivery note for the drugs were fewer than those delivered to the health centre.
“While the delivery note shows that 40 boxes had been delivered, we found that there were 48 boxes, so we impounded them. We are investigating the circumstances under which the drugs were packed in excess,†Richard Omona, a special police constable in charge of Aywee Police Post, said.
The Gulu deputy resident district commissioner, Milton Odong, whose office monitors drug deliveries, said a similar incident occurred recently.
“This happened at Badege and Liyibi health units. Close to 15 boxes of the same drugs were delivered in excess under the guise of an oversight,†he said.
When The New Vision contacted the municipal health officer, Dr. Ongom Oola, he denied any possibility of drug theft, arguing that the problem arose out of irregularities in packing and documentation.
“Our stores officer is new on the job. He does not double check his work. It is like working in the bank. You have to be very keen especially when there are so many deliveries to be made,†he said.
Residents of Patiko sub-county have written to the resident district commissioner, complaining that health workers were stealing drugs from public health centres and using them in their private clinics.
A 2007 investigation unearthed theft of drugs worth millions of shillings from the National Medical Stores (NMS).
NMS is responsible for supplying drugs to government hospitals and dispensaries countrywide.