The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health says that despite global supply-chain pressures having a huge impact on local essential medication stock, and resulting in shortages, every effort was being made to deal with the challenges and maintain continuous treatment of patients, reports IOL.
In July, there were supply issues with epilepsy medication (Phenobarbital), TB (Rifampicin) drugs, and contraceptive pills. In the same month, the Gauteng Department of Health squashed claims that Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital patients were being denied essential medicines due to shortages.
While it acknowledged the challenges, the department said these were being managed through established clinical and supply chain processes.
In a parliamentary response in June, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said that antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Flucytosine, Fosfomycin and Mebendazole), TB (Rifampicin-containing products), oncology products (Bleomycin, Carboplatin, Docetaxel, and Filgrastim), insulin, and selected paediatric antiretroviral medicines (Nevirapine and Lamivudine) are frequently affected by stock disruptions.
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said the ongoing Middle East conflict has had an impact on how they receive certain pharmaceuticals and essential ingredients, and that although some hospitals might have shortages, the Department of Health mandates that clinicians must provide suitable therapeutic alternatives, ensuring every patient receives the necessary treatment.
But it was a fact, she conceded, “that the one we are usually looking for, the way we get it, is no longer there, or it’s no longer the same as before”.
KZN Health HoD Penny Msimango said the issue was being discussed extensively, and that weekly meetings were held to identify problems and critical shortages.
Patients without medical aid could not afford to buy medication, she added, so staff “must not direct them to do so”.
Provincial Pharmaceutical Supply Depot manager Thandeka Njapha said supply pressures were having a major impact on life-saving medications, particularly in pill form, like those for chronic and mental health conditions.
But the shortages did not mean the medication is unavailable.
“Rather, clinicians are using therapeutic alternatives, medications that perform the same function as the originally prescribed treatment…And if there are problems with medicine, we don’t just sit; we try to buy. You find that supplier A doesn’t have it; we will go to B, C, until we go to D. We move it around, we share it.”
She said that if medication were unavailable, staff had to collect patient contact details rather than turn patients away. They then source the medication from other facilities or alternative suppliers, some arranging for delivery to ensure patients receive their prescriptions without having to personally locate them.
She said the national department has also stepped in; they check with other provinces and borrow from each other; they meet regularly and check facilities so they can intervene quickly.
“As a province, we are trying to find other suppliers who can provide us with medicine. National is also doing the same, helping all provinces, big and small, so that if there is a supplier who says they have a problem with a certain pill, we try to find another one.”
IOL article – KZN Health says medicine disruptions are being managed across hospitals (Open access)
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