16 Dec 2010

Essential medicine arrives in Vanuatu following shortage

11:39 am on 16 December 2010

Medicine has arrived in Vanuatu, ending a shortage of essential drugs in hospitals and health facilities.

The Daily Post reports Vanuatu faced a critical drugs shortage after the Vila Central Hospital ran out of the most essential drugs , including antibiotics and asthma sprays.

The newspapers says around 600-thousand US dollars was owed to drugs suppliers in Australia, New Zealand, Spain and other countries in Europe.

But the Ministry of Health's Acting Director General, Len Tarivonda, now says the government has now found the money to pay off the outstanding bills.

He says a significant shipment of medicines and medical supplies has now arrived in the country and is awaiting re-packaging and dispatch to all hospitals and health facilities.