K.H.M.H. Anticipates Supply Shortage is Coming to an End

Chandra Cansino

According to C.E.O. Cansino, the hospital has had to rely on the good graces of its suppliers to make available pharmaceuticals, as well as basic items, using a line of credit. The supply crisis, she says, is not an issue that is unique to Belize.  Nevertheless, a lack of essential resources threatens the wellbeing of patients seeking medical attention from the K.H.M.H.

Chandra Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“We are grateful to our suppliers who give us credit lines and, you know, we owe.  We di goh and as we goh along we have suppliers that work with us.  So we purchase these items and not all the time we get enough notice to know well, this is the last that we will give you of this item.  So we do run into situations where items run out before we purchase, and I guess that’s what the district hospitals would encounter as well.  When we do know and we do find the items here in the country, we purchase them.  Again, a lot of these items are imported into the country by these tenders and suppliers, and so they are not easily available.  Some of the medications you need special licenses and so they are not easily available.  Oftentimes, we reach out to our partners, other district hospitals, “You have any ah dis?  Lend we dat.  Patient need dis…”  Even the private institutions, you know, they are extremely supportive and assist us where possible.  So that is what we’ve been doing.  I know for sure that over the past week, last week actually and this week, we have been receiving a lot more supplies.  So it seems that that waiting period for this bulk of supplies that we have been waiting for is now coming to an end.  So I guess that would be the light or the silver lining on the cloud.”