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Nurses petition ministry over UBH ‘rot’

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nurses at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have refused to budge on their demands for the closure of a private pharmacy they allege is to blame for the shortages of drugs and other medical basics at the institution.

nurses at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have refused to budge on their demands for the closure of a private pharmacy they allege is to blame for the shortages of drugs and other medical basics at the institution.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

The nurses are accusing the hospital management of deliberately failing to buy drugs and other basic necessities as a means to force patients to purchase them at the UBH24 Pharmacy in return for kickbacks.

Last Tuesday, UBH nurses forced the pharmacy to temporarily close during a protest over the lack of stationery, drugs and other basic necessities at the hospital.

Southern Eye heard the Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (Zina) has since petitioned the Health ministry, requesting for an investigation into the operations of the private pharmacy and its closure.

UBH Zina chairperson, Anthony Majongosi yesterday confirmed the development, saying: “We met the UBH management on Friday, where we reiterated our call for the pharmacy to be closed, but they said their hands are tied.

“We have since written a letter to the ministry requesting that it be shut down, as it is clear there is some collusion between the management and pharmacy owners to deliberately not purchase drugs to force patients to turn to it.

“Curiously though, after we demonstrated last week, the management has since tried to buy some of the basics and other drugs, showing that all along they had the means to do so, but were deliberately not buying. It is the reason why we want that pharmacy closed.”

The pharmacy officials last week refuted allegations they are to blame for the drug shortages.

Instead, the UBH 24Hour Pharmacy officials said calls for its closure were unwarranted, as the pharmacy was benefiting patients failing to access drugs at UBH, a claim supported by the hospital’s chief executive officer, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu.

According to minutes of a meeting held on Tuesday between the hospital management and protesting nurses, the private pharmacy was of “great help” to patients.