Medicine shortages hit Gauteng public health facilities, department admits

The Gauteng Department of Health has admitted that some public health facilities in the province are struggling with the supply of medicines.

The department said the shortages were driven by supplier delays, changes in medicine contracts, procurement lead times, limited supplier participation and wider pressure on the pharmaceutical supply chain, EWN reported.

Spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department recognised that shortages could cause anxiety and inconvenience, particularly for patients who depend on chronic medication, but that availability was being actively monitored and interventions were in place to limit interruptions to treatment and distribute available stock as equitably as possible.

The department said the shortage of a particular brand, pack size or supplier's product did not necessarily mean a patient would go without treatment.

Where a specific medicine is unavailable, facilities can supply another approved manufacturer's product or pack size or, where clinically appropriate, an alternative medicine in line with standard treatment guidelines.

Stock can also be moved between facilities and districts to correct imbalances, and urgent medicines can be bought from other approved suppliers, it said.

The department tracks stock through its Stock Visibility System, The Citizen reported, and is working with the national health department to address the problems.

The statement follows a call on Tuesday by the Democratic Alliance's Gauteng health spokesperson, Madeleine Hicklin, for an urgent investigation after patients at facilities including Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Nigel Clinic and Northmead Clinic reportedly struggled to get chronic medication for conditions including high blood pressure, blood clots, epilepsy and bipolar disorder.