An emergency shipment of medicines flown in from Fiji last week has provided only partial relief to Samoa's ongoing medicine shortage, with supplies covering only about half of what is currently needed.
According to Radio New Zealand (RNZ), the Ministry of Health received an urgent air freight shipment from Fiji-based Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) as shortages continue to affect health services across the country.
A recent report by the Samoa Observer revealed medicine shortages at the national hospital had forced the mental health unit to ration supplies and make home visits to deliver medication to some patients.
The government announced that the shortage is due to $12 million in unpaid bills to suppliers. This situation has led to shortages in a variety of medicines, which include aspirin, metformin, high blood pressure tablets and some antibiotics.
It was highlighted shortages of essential medicines, including Metformin, Amlodipine, and children's Paracetamol syrup.
