THE Ministry of Health says the National Health Fund (NHF) has identified alternative sources of IV fluids in a bid to address a worldwide shortage now affecting Jamaica.

“…As a result, the situation is expected to improve by later this week with the arrival of a shipment of IV fluids. In the meantime, reserve supplies currently available are being distributed to all hospitals,” a ministry statement said.

According to the ministry, over the last three months the NHF has been receiving reduced but steady supplies from “our usual overseas sources and as such we have had to utilise our emergency stock to continue supply to the public health facilities.

“Similar to the US and other countries, conservation strategies have been recommended to alleviate the crisis and all hospitals have been advised to manage supplies as efficiently as possible,” said the ministry.

“The National Health Fund has always had an excellent relationship with the media and wishes to categorically state that we remain committed to open communication on national issues,” the Fund said in an apparent response to a report yesterday on the shortage of IV fluids.

Earlier, in a statement, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) denied a media report that the Spanish Town Hospital had exhausted its supplies.

“Under no circumstances did the Spanish Town Hospital run out of IV fluids last week, as systems were put in place to ensure that the IV fluids are available as needed in light of the shortage,” explained Dr Andrei Cook, the acting board chairman for SERHA.