Hemophilia patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are facing challenges due to an alleged shortage of medication.
The Ghana Hemophilia Society attributes this shortage to delays in the import permit processing by the Food and Drugs Authority for donated drugs. Consequently, prophylaxis treatments have been suspended, and hospital supplies are running low, leaving patients in need of surgery or urgent care in a precarious situation.
Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, the Deputy Medical Director of KATH, clarified that while the hospital has sufficient medication for treatment, the limited supply is affecting prophylaxis administration. The hospital is currently rationing available medication to prioritize patients with active bleeding, which has led to a temporary suspension of prophylactic doses.
“The current situation is that we have a low supply of prophylactic factors. We have enough medication for treatment, but we are not administering prophylaxis at this time. Patients are accustomed to receiving both prophylactic and treatment doses, but due to the shortage, we are prioritizing those with active bleeding,” Dr. Opare Larbi explained.
He added, “We have not run out of stock completely, but we are managing our supply to ensure it lasts until the newly imported medication arrives. Once the new stock is available, we will resume prophylactic treatments.”