As of June, the [b]Free State’s Bloemfontein[/b] medicine depot had run out more than 200 essential drugs and supplies including HIV testing kits, at least six different antiretrovirals, as well as most medication and supplies to help control hypertension and diabetes. [s]Health-e[/s] reports that this is according to a joint statement released by public interest group [b]Section 27[/b] and Aids lobbyists, the [b]Treatment Action Campaign[/b]. Section 27 executive director Mark Heywood says financial mismanagement and huge debt are likely at the root of the health system’s malaise. ‘The Free State has been in an on-going financial crisis, accruing debt and spending last year’s debt in next year’s budget,’ said Heywood, who added that the crisis has been ongoing for at least five years.
[b]Gauteng’s Department of Health[/b] has not approved orders placed by several of the hospital's departments. [s]The Times[/s] quotes sources as saying that the department had withheld the money. Normally, the department will keep money that is not spent by hospitals but, according to a source, heads of departments had submitted order forms for equipment but had heard nothing from the Department of Health.
[link url=http://www.health-e.org.za/2014/06/23/free-state-health-collapses-amid-alleged-financial-crisis]Full Health-e report [/link]
[link url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/06/20/doctors-blame-provincial-bosses-for-equipment-shortages]Full report in The Times[/link]