"Morphine out of stock" rumours denied

Manama, Jan. 4 (BNA): The Health Ministry denied rumours that Morphine medication is out of stock. It stressed that the medicine, which is used in alleviating sickle cell patients' pain, is available. The ministry affirmed that it is closely monitoring all medication needs of the sickle cell patients in accordance with the new treatment protocol taken in light of the recommendations of a group of experts from the US-based Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Health Ministry dismissed the rumours that Morphine is out of stock because of rationalising expenditure as untrue. It stressed that all sickle cell patients in Bahrain are undertaking good treatment and receiving their needed medicines according to their doctors' prescriptions and the protocol in use. It added that the use of Morphine went up last year and all needed measures were taken to ensure its availability. It also pointed out that new medications are being delivered for the treatment of sickle cell patients, underlining the efforts made to continuously optmise health services, in line with the directives of the leadership.