(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fazeena Saleem / The Peninsula
Private hospitals and polyclinics have started receiving medicines from new markets. They have not experienced shortage of medicines so far due to the ongoing blockade imposed on Qatar by some of its neighbouring countries, say industry sources.
Also, the change of import countries has not made an impact on medicine prices.
Companies which bring pharmaceutical products as well as some private healthcare providers have started to import medicines from countries including the UK and Jordan.
Several healthcare experts at private hospitals and polyclinics, The Peninsula spoke to rejected the perception that the blockade had an impact on the availability of medicines by saying stocks of certain medicines are still available and in the meantime have started receiving medicines and medical supplies from alternative import countries.
'We have not felt any shortage of medicines or medical supplies. However, as of now suppliers (companies which bring medicines and medical suppliers) have found alternative countries like Jordan and we have started to get medicines being brought from those countries, said Dr Sameer Moopan, Chief Executive Officer, Aster DM Healthcare, Qatar. 'Also, we are bringing certain types like emergency medicines directly from the UK for our hospital, he added.
In reply to a query if there was a change in prices of medicines compared to the previous months, he said there was no change in the prices of medicines. Similarly, a General Practitioner at the Atlas Medical Centre said, 'We have not seen any shortage of medicine. Generally we keep stocks of medicines and medical supplies sufficient for several months. I expect new stock to come from new markets.
While patients say that they had a notion of shortage of medicines and that prices might increase but it turned out to be incorrect. 'Every month I get regular medicines for high blood pressure and my husband for diabetes. We had a fear that medicines may not be available or prices would have increased. But we got the same medicines for the same price, said Zarah, an Indian expatriate.
Earlier, pharmaceutical experts said that medicine supply and distribution has not been affected due to the blockade. Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), the two major healthcare providers in the country had assured that there would be no shortage of medical supplies or medicines because of the blockade. Both institutions confirmed that there was no shortage of drugs and delivery and access to medical supplies and medicine continued as usual.
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