A multi-vendor approach will be introduced by Gauteng Health to acquire food for healthcare institutions after reported shortages and inconsistent supply, it said last week.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the previous practice of contracting a single supplier for a range of items – like dairy products, red meat, fish, bread and vegetables – had been reviewed after being found to be the main factor in erratic supply.
Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital had a catastrophic shortage in May due to poor contract management and not enough cold-storage capacity, which affected both patients and staff, reports TimesLIVE.
“The process to appoint multiple suppliers is in its final stages,” Modiba said, adding that where specific items were unavailable, arrangements would be made to ensure patients still received a “sustained” diet.
Although some hospitals faced supplier payment issues, “the main issue remains the limited capacities of contracted service providers, who are unable to keep up with the demands of the facilities and their orders”.
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