Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has blamed the negligence of staff at the National Hospital for the shortage of some antibiotic drugs.

In doing so, he has dismissed claims that the National Health Services has run out of cash to pay for the supply of Amoxicillin Suspension and Augmentin Suspension.

Speaking to the media, Tuilaepa said this happens from time to time in the public service when staff members are negligent.

Tuilaepa pointed out that N.H.S has been left without a General Manager following the resignation of Leota Laki Sio to run in the election.

This has resulted in some of the problems.

Still, he said the shortage should never have happened.

He added that the shortage of medication is not the only problem.

According to Tuilaepa, there is a backlog of people waiting to be transferred overseas under the Overseas Treatment Scheme.

Last week, N.H.S. Acting General Manager, So’i Ma’atasesa Samuelu – Matthes assured that they have placed a new order that should arrive this week. 

So’i said the shortage was due to the increasing number of patients mainly children diagnosed with the flu at the hospital. 

“The N.H.S. is now looking at ways to solve the problem and we’ve already negotiated with private pharmacies in relation to the situation,” she said. 

“These (antibiotics) are still available at those (pharmacies) except us.”

Some of the medications that are short include amoxicillin suspension and augmentin suspension.