LOCAL PHARMACIES, pressured by the two-month-old outbreak of conjunctivitis (pink eye), have run out of the common drugs used to fight the illness.
After two weeks of stating that it had enough medication to fight the contagious eye infection, the Ministry of Health said yesterday that local distributors of the eye drops, usually used to prevent the complications of viral conjunctivitis, have advised that they are out of stock.
Health officials said that the number of new cases of viral conjunctivitis is still at epidemic levels but that there was a 40 per cent decline in the number of cases since the outbreak peaked during the week ending August 16 this year.
UNREPORTED CASES
But health officials have cautioned that many cases go unreported by persons who opt not to visit physicians.
Suppliers are having difficulties in procuring additional supplies because of the increased demand for the drugs over the past six weeks, the Ministry said in a statement.
The drug drought has also affected Health Corporation Limited, which purchases and supplies medication to the public health sector.
"(It) is also out of stock of the drugs but is hoping to obtain supplies by early next week," the Ministry promised.
Doctors and other individuals are being asked to use alternative treatments such as dabbing the eyes with salt water, using cool compresses or using different drugs. Prevention is also being stressed. Persons should wash hands and avoid contact with infected people and putting hands to the eyes.
