Today, our hospital witnessed a heartbreaking loss – a patient’s life slipped away in front of us due to the glaring inefficiencies in our healthcare system.
A woman was referred to us with seemingly straightforward conditions per the referral note: simple malaria, dyspnea, and cellulitis. But upon arrival, her situation was dire: her respiratory distress necessitated immediate oxygen therapy.
As I assessed her condition, I suspected a life-threatening pulmonary embolism and ordered crucial medication as her unstable vital signs required urgent resuscitation. To my astonishment, the emergency room lacked basic fluids! Relatives were forced to queue for medications, which eventually arrived, but precious time was lost.
Tragically, the patient’s condition deteriorated, and she suffered a cardiac arrest. We attempted CPR, but our efforts were hindered by a shocking scarcity of emergency medication – only one 1mg vial of adrenaline was available in the entire ER.
This devastating loss highlights the alarming flaws in our healthcare system. A regional hospital, entrusted with saving lives, was woefully unprepared for an emergency.
We must confront and address these systemic gaps to prevent such tragedies from recurring.