Our hospital receives medicines and supplies from the government through something called Area Medical Store. This is a huge blessing to us, as it saves us money by not having to purchase medicines. What the government doesn't give us, we have to supplement with meds that either we or Nazarene Hospital Foundation purchases, or medicines that are donated from the US. We get a majority of our meds from AMS, so when they are out of things, we are in trouble.
Recently, we have been having some problems getting supplies because AMS doesn't have the meds that we need. After numerous phone calls to the head AMS guys in Port Moresby and trying to get in touch with our local AMS in Mt. Hagen, I decided to make a trip to see what I could find out. I have spoken to the guy in charge of Hagen AMS numerous times on the phone, but I finally got to meet him in person when I went. We talked for a while and I left with promises of doing all they can to help us and to get us meds, but some things are just out of their control.
After I talked to them, I then asked for a tour of their warehouse. It seems like a pretty big warehouse, with lots of shelving and areas all labeled for all the different meds that we can ask for. Some of the areas were empty and others were full. Most of the medicines that are in large quantities are meds that we don't use regularly. They did have a large amount of some normal saline IVF - which is always a good thing. However, currently they are out of disposable gloves and all of our IV medicines that we use everyday to treat pts, which is a problem. It isn't just our hospital that is without these meds, but all the hospitals in our area. Pray that AMS would come through with their promises and provide medicines which will allow us to properly care for the pts who come to be seen.
Our hospital receives medicines and supplies from the government through something called Area Medical Store. This is a huge blessing to us, as it saves us money by not having to purchase medicines. What the government doesn't give us, we have to supplement with meds that either we or Nazarene Hospital Foundation purchases, or medicines that are donated from the US. We get a majority of our meds from AMS, so when they are out of things, we are in trouble.
Recently, we have been having some problems getting supplies because AMS doesn't have the meds that we need. After numerous phone calls to the head AMS guys in Port Moresby and trying to get in touch with our local AMS in Mt. Hagen, I decided to make a trip to see what I could find out. I have spoken to the guy in charge of Hagen AMS numerous times on the phone, but I finally got to meet him in person when I went. We talked for a while and I left with promises of doing all they can to help us and to get us meds, but some things are just out of their control. 
After I talked to them, I then asked for a tour of their warehouse. It seems like a pretty big warehouse, with lots of shelving and areas all labeled for all the different meds that we can ask for. Some of the areas were empty and others were full. Most of the medicines that are in large quantities are meds that we don't use regularly. They did have a large amount of some normal saline IVF - which is always a good thing. However, currently they are out of disposable gloves and all of our IV medicines that we use everyday to treat pts, which is a problem. It isn't just our hospital that is without these meds, but all the hospitals in our area. Pray that AMS would come through with their promises and provide medicines which will allow us to properly care for the pts who come to be seen.
