GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyana government has launched an investigation into the controversy surrounding the recent emergency purchase of critically needed drugs and medical supplies for the health sector, particularly the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence said that instructions have been given to the Board of the GPHC to carry out an investigation into the purchases.

Lawrence said that she had convened a meeting of the GPHC’s senior management to ascertain the true state of the supplies of drugs available at the institution following several media reports and complaints that certain drugs and medical supplies were in short supply.

She said the discussions revealed that in “excess of 200 types of drugs were short” and that the shortage was due to several “gaps in the system”

Lawrence said she ordered a stock count, and was informed that 287 types of drugs/ medicines were out of stock.

She pointed to the practice by some suppliers, to indicate their inability to supply the items for which they received payment when close to the delivery date. Others, she said provided a few of the items then refused to provide the rest, blaming unexpected changes in the global market prices.

She said the investigation will answer all the questions being raised and ascertain whether anyone needed to be sanctioned, if at all.

The Food and Drug Department will also participate in the investigations.