The Mpumalanga Department of Health has tightened controls over abortion medication following reports that illegal providers claimed to obtain pills from health officials.

Department spokesperson Dumisani Malamule said measures have been introduced to prevent abortion medication from falling into the wrong hands and to curb theft, diversion and illegal sales.

Malamule explained that health facilities have introduced control books to monitor the movement of medication. “Every pill is counted and entered daily,” he said.

The department has also warned that employees found guilty of stealing medication will face action.

Malamule said the department has received reports and acted on multiple cases involving pharmaceutical theft at public facilities.

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“Where allegations that a government employee is illegally supplying medication are substantiated, the official could face both internal disciplinary action under public service regulations and criminal prosecution,” he said.

“The department is also working with the police and other law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal abortion services and advertisements.”

Operations target illegal advertising

Malamule added that enforcement operations are intelligence-led and are launched when credible information or complaints are received. They are not conducted according to a fixed schedule, but are undertaken when sufficient evidence is available to support law enforcement action.

“The department is also targeting illegal abortion posters by monitoring social media and physically removing unlawful advertisements,” he said.

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Focus on prevention and education

As part of its prevention strategy, the department uses the B-Wise platform to provide reproductive health information and conducts dialogues on sexual and reproductive health targeting young and adolescent girls.

Healthcare providers are also trained on contraception, family planning and legal termination of pregnancy services to reduce demand for illegal providers.

Mpumalanga has 57 health facilities providing first-trimester termination services and nine facilities offering second- and third-trimester services.

The department urged residents to use legal sexual and reproductive health services.