Take home drugs for healthy mothers and newborns are not only a malpractice, but also exploitatory.
A mother of three ran to us with a box of drugs dispensed to her and her new born after her discharge from a private clinic. She claimed the doctor got furious when she asked what the diagnosis were? " I know my job, the drugs are for your general well-being, go to that corner and book for circumcision and immunization" was the doctor's reply. What prompted her to seek for a second opinion was the doctor's arrogant response, coupled with her previous experiences during the birth of her two older kids, whom were discharged home without medications. "Pills identification, crossing matching them with ailments is a puzzle you should not be playing and we discourage such here. Go back to the doctor, politely ask what the diagnoses are, then to the hospital pharmacist for drug counselling" was the advice given . Initially, i thought the lady was not truthful until after visiting the hospital and dismissed again without any clue regarding what the medications were for. It took the visit of Pharmarbiter's lawyer for the hospital to admit the crooked practice.
Obstetrics and gynecology is an area of specialty in medicine with increasing demand due to large number of women populace and cultural practice ( large families), in our part of the world. This explains the reason for the large number of private maternity care providers, obstetric and gynecology clinics, thus , exploitatory as well. In fact, private clinics ideally should be complementary to what our system was not able to provide for us, and as expected profit is important to keep the business running just like every other business out there. It is gradually becoming a norm for this clinics to dispense unnecessary drugs to their service users on discharge, in the bid not to raise eyebrows over the exorbitant hospital bills. The victims are mostly women and newborns due to the excitement that engulf families on safe baby's arrival. The classes of unnecessary drugs often dispensed to newborns ranges from haematopoietins, vitamin C, cod liver oil, paracetamol, antibiotics( ampiclox drop) etc.
Starting the year with criticisms? No! Just thought we break it down and perhaps make a case on why all hands should on deck. Our healthcare system is in shambles and that is all you know as a citizen. Trust me, if you do not have an idea of what a functional system is, you are less likely to know when it is eventually fixed. The government is not interested in the health of the citizens, and the private clinics are turning out to be exploitatory probably as a survival mechanism, greed or any reason whatsoever. The first dose not care and the latter is out to exploit you, is high time you took charge and pay attention to tiniest piece of information regarding your health. Ask questions,it is your right to get satisfactory answers regardless of the hierarchy of the medical professional involved. Be cultured about it though. !
ASK! ASK!! ASK!!! If you feel it is getting twisted, Team Pharmarbiter is here for you.
We all need to get involved (government, healthcare professionals and patients) to achieve that dream healthcare system.