Hospital fire destroys TB meds

A fire broke out at the Jose Pearson Santa hospital in Port Elizabeth early on Monday, the Eastern Cape health department said.

Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said no injuries were reported but the hospital's dispensary was completely destroyed.

"Tuberculosis (TB) medication and drugs to the value of R800,000 were destroyed," he said.

It was not clear how the fire started but investigations were underway. Kupelo said the fire did not disrupt services and treatment of TB patients would continue as normal.

Medication was being transported to the hospital from a nearby depot in Port Elizabeth. "In the meantime, another portion of the hospital would be used as a temporary dispensary," he said. – (Sapa, September 2009)

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