A contraception shortage in some North West and Gauteng clinics for the past three or four months is increasing women’s concerns about unplanned pregnancies, reports Health-e News.
Several women in the North West region said they had last been given their three-month supplies in February.
“When I asked when they would have stock of my pill, they said they weren’t sure, that I must keep checking with them,” one said.
“I am really worried. This gives me sleepless nights. I can’t afford another child. I hope they sort this issue out soon.”
Another woman who has been on Nur-Isterate – the two-monthly injection – said she was due for her next jab towards the end of June, but was worried after hearing about the shortages.
“When I first heard about the shortage on social media, I got worried and called the Matlhonyane Clinic to check. It’s a small clinic, and they said they only had a very small supply and hadn’t received any new stock yet,” she said.
She was extremely anxious about the chances of falling pregnant.
‘Suppliers not paid’
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) in North West, which has condemned the stockouts, said it was due to have a meeting with the department this week. It has attributed the problem to payments.
Reuben Molete, Denosa provincial secretary, said the shortages were because suppliers had not been paid on time, and because of poor planning between what is needed and what is ordered.
North West Health has acknowledged running out of some contraceptives, such as the oral pill and sub-dermal implant, across facilities in the province.
“There are intermittent shortages of some stock, but the extent and duration varies by facility and by product,” said spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi.
“The department continuously monitors stock availability through pharmaceutical supply chain management systems and is implementing measures to minimise disruptions to patient care.”
The department was “working on a plan to ensure the availability of stock”.
Gauteng also under pressure
Women in parts of Gauteng have made similar complaints about shortages of injectables and the implant. Others have had to switch from their preferred contraceptive methods.
One Soshanguve resident said she’d had to compromise and use the Depo injection after being told the sub-dermal implants had not been delivered in February.
“The Depo injection has bad side effects for me – and I also menstruate more heavily when I am on that, sometimes for as long as a week instead of three days,” she told Health-e News.
The Depo injection is administered every three months. In May, when she went back to the clinic, the implant was still not available, and she had to get another shot of Depo.
“I’m unemployed, I cannot afford to pay R200 at the private doctor. But I’d rather bleed than be pregnant.”
Another woman said when she went for her follow-up injection in May, the clinic had no pregnancy tests, which women must take before starting on contraceptives. “Often we are told that the Nur-Isterate two-monthly injection is not available and have to be given the Depo-Provera three-monthly injection,” she said, adding that some women also have to wait the whole day to receive the morning-after pill.
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed there had been “limited stock” of some contraceptives, but said both injectables and implants had been available with no stock problems.
“For the past couple of months, oral contraceptives have been problematic. Due to manufacturing constraints from suppliers, we have been receiving limited stock, which was distributed between clinics,” Mabona said. “But supplies are improving and all oral and injectable contraceptives will now be available.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Birth control stockouts remain a problem in SA
Contraception shortage in Gauteng
Contraception shortages are failing South African women – Stop Stockout Report
Stop Stockouts introduces online report facility for whistleblowers