Paper for the Workshop on ‘Disaster Management for the Health Sector in Indonesia’,
Bali Padma Hotel, Kuta, 11-13 Juni 2003

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE AT SANGLAH HOSPITAL
AFTER THE KUTA BLAST (12-10-2002)

6. Intake of donations of Medicines

   On Sunday the first donations of medicines and bandages came in in small numbers⁹. A fairly large space was immediately provided on the same corridor as the hotline and a small number of volunteers (3 at first) started to sort the donations out and write on paper what had been collected. The wards were asked which medicines were needed and these were then brought over by the volunteers if available. At the wards volunteers also asked the doctors/nurses which medicines were most needed (special cream and special bandages for burns). Because not donated, these items were immediately bought by volunteer organisations with available funds and a large announcement was placed near the emergency unit for all to see that these were the most pressing needs.

   However, not everything went smoothly. Not all doctors and nurses at Melati ward were informed that there was a warehouse of donated medicines close to the Emergency unit treated that contained for example the optimum burn cream. As a result some injured patients continued to be treated with an inferior product that can cause a severe reaction. Eventually, in the third week a volunteer was given the authority to take out medications from the warehouse and bring these to the Melati ward.

   By Monday the government had taken responsibility to provide (and pay) for all medicines needed. However, this did not stop donations of medicines and so forth to flow in. That day the first international donation of medications came in through the airport (facilitated by IMC). A computer database for the donations was not available, which hampered quick handling. A database became operational as late as January and before that all handlings were done by handwriting.

   A large part of donated medications eventually had to be stored elsewhere as routine at the emergency unit was hampered by the large amounts of donated medicines. How to deal with excess of donations by the public was a matter left to the responsible authorities.

   Recommendations: appoint competent hospital staff or previously selected volunteer with sufficient background as head of the medicine intake. include a proper inventory system and control in the emergency plan. notify hospital staff where to obtain free donated medicines. take security measures to avoid theft.

   
   

   9 Many people had just swapped all the medicines they had at home in a plastic bag, not taking out what was already overdue.

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