Friday, August 11, 2017

Expired Medicines And Kits Found At The Bontoc General Hospital By DOH Inspection Team

During an inspection done by a team from the Department of Health on July 20, it was found out that the Bontoc General Hospital in Mt. Province has been using expired medicines, kits, and reagents. According to a report on Sun Star Baguio (the only traditional news outlet so far that has covered the issue), it was found out that the medical facility has been "using expired reagents and kits at the laboratory section and expired medicines at the emergency room and dialysis unit".

[Definition]: A reagent is "a substance that is used to produce a chemical reaction that allows researchers to detect, measure, produce, or change other substances." [Source: Medicine Net]

Among the expired items that the hospital has been using include glucose reagents, cholesterol reagents, amiodarone, syphilis kits, and sodium bicarbonate. In light of the findings by the inspection team, Dr. Penelope Domogo, officer in charge at the hospital, has been requested to explain the use of expired kits and medicines inside the facility.

[Definitions]
Amiodarone: an antiarrhythmic medication used to treat and prevent a number of types of irregular heartbeats. This includes ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and wide complex tachycardia, as well as atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It can be given by mouth, intravenously, or intraosseously.

Sodium bicarbonate - an antacid used to relieve heartburn and acid indigestion. Your doctor also may prescribe sodium bicarbonate to make your blood or urine less acidic in certain conditions.
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