Hospitals in Almaty running out of prescription pads, leaving patients without necessary medications
Revised Article:
Pain, Prescriptions, and Patience: The Plight of Almaty's Oncology Patients
Let's talk about a pressing issue that's been causing quite a stir in Almaty lately – the scarcity of special prescription forms necessary for obtaining potent painkillers. As reported by "7 Channel," this predicament has left numerous cancer patients in the lurch.
The crux of the issue involves pink forms adorned with watermarks, essential for procuring heavy-duty narcotics. A twist in the tale is that these forms aren't just prescribed for cancer patients anymore; they've also become commonplace for drug addicts undergoing substitute therapy since January this year. Unfortunately, this twist has left patients battling cancer high and dry.
Take the case of Tamara Veemeyeva's husband, who's been grappling with cancer for over two decades. His agony has reached new heights lately. Standard painkillers just aren't cutting it, and getting stronger ones has turned into an arduous task.
"He (the doctor)brew up this tramadol. I've been on it for about a week now. I can see it's no remedy for him. It's like a sugar pill at this point. Why go through the hassle? He's alive, but he's in pain. He cries out in agony when the pain kicks in. What can I do? I'm at a loss", Tamara shares, her voice filled with despair.
The root cause of this predicament was explained by Gulnara Kuvirova, the main out-of-staff specialist in palliative care at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
"These forms are churned out by special licensed printing houses because they're secure papers, and that necessitates a tender, contracts, and printing. This entire process takes time, and that's time that cancer patients don't have. We're dealing with excruciating, unbearable pain on a scale of 0 to 10 – it's reaches 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. There's no hiding from it", says Kuvirova.
The health department of Almaty is clued in to the problem and assures that they've arranged for the required quantities of pink forms for all hospitals in the city.
As of today, the supply of pink prescription forms for dispensing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors has been delivered to all clinics in Almaty city. This jam has been caused partly by changes in Minister of Health Order No. 32, which mandates that from February 2025, medications distributed via special prescription forms, including methadone, must be filled out exclusively on pink forms.
Acting head of the Department of Public Health Management in Almaty, Aizuldyz Ahmetchenko, commented, "This created an urgent need for additional quantities of these forms for medical organizations in Almaty. Immediate actions were taken to find a supplier and secure a commercial offer, detailing the necessary quantity."
The issue of medication shortages isn't exactly new in Kazakhstan. The country stumbles low in global rankings for pain management, with experts estimating that as many as 95% of cancer patients shuffle off this mortal coil without adequate relief from their agony. Last summer, the "Kazakhstan Halygy" fund received appeals from local governments expressing their inability to provide essential medications to cancer patients.
Deputy of the Majilis, Askhat Aimagambetov, revealed that the Ministry of Health had issued an order to slash the budget earmarked for treating oncological diseases. Subsequently, the Chief Out-of-Staff Oncologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Dilyara Kairatova, countered with, "Rest assured, no oncological patient will be affected by this situation." Her sentiment was echoed by representatives of the Ministry of Health.
As for the future, the Ministry of Health announced its intention to scrub medications for treating 32 diseases from the list of free medications this year.
Executing a complete overhaul of the healthcare system in Kazakhstan is a formidable challenge. However, focusing on digitalizing prescription systems, enhancing supply chain transparency, and forging partnerships with international health organizations would be solid steps toward improving medication accessibility and easing the pain of patients.
Bye for now! Don't forget to tune in for more exclusives and compelling content. 👋 Subscribe to Telegram.
Enrichment Content:
Behind the Scenes:
Kazakhstan faces several health challenges, including environmental health concerns stemming from industrial pollution and the legacy of nuclear test sites. Additionally, the country has grappled with disease outbreaks, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).
Addressing medication shortages specifically can involve regulatory and supply chain improvements, international collaborations and donations, and public awareness and education campaigns. Long-term solutions may include expanding local pharmaceutical production, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and undertaking environmental remediation efforts. Focusing on digitalizing prescription systems, enhancing supply chain transparency, and partnering with global health organizations could be key strategies to fight medication shortages.
- Unfortunately, the scarcity of special prescription forms adorned with watermarks, crucial for procuring heavy-duty narcotics, has left cancer patients in Almaty grappling with severe pain, as reported by "7 Channel."
- The issue of prescription forms has expanded beyond cancer patients, with these forms becoming commonplace for drug addicts undergoing substitute therapy since January, causing a strain on the supply for those in the medical-conditions of cancer.
- Tamara Veemeyeva's husband, battling cancer for over two decades, has been relying on tramadol for pain relief, but its effectiveness has been questionable, leaving him in agony and crying out in discomfort.
- The science of pain management in Kazakhstan is under scrutiny, with experts estimating that as many as 95% of cancer patients pass away without adequate relief from their agony.
- To improve medication accessibility and ease the pain of patients, the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan plans to focus on digitalizing prescription systems, enhancing supply chain transparency, and forging partnerships with international health organizations.
