Patients asked to buy their own specimen bottles as shortage hits Harare Hospital

Patients at Harare Hospital are being asked to bring their own specimen bottles as the hospital has been hit by a shortage of specimen bottles.

An insider at Harare Central Hospital told ZBC News that the hospital has floated a tender for the procurement of the bottles but no company has been awarded the tender as yet. A tray with 100 bottles goes for US$15 when buyers order from reputable suppliers but patients are now being asked to buy from private pharmacies where a single bottle is sold for US$1.

The bottles are supposed to be kept in a sterile environment to avoid contamination but the obtaining situation means that patients can even store the bottles in their bags or pockets or any other such places which are not sterile which can compromise the outcome of the results.