It was reported on www.mobserver.co.za last week Friday that provincial healthcare institutions are facing a serious shortage of medical supplies because of supply chain issues at the depot.

Several sources from across the province spoke to us on the basis that their identities be withheld out of fear that they might lose their jobs or be victimised.

Information from one source was that the depot notified clinics and hospitals that they would only be allowed to order small amounts of medical supplies each week. Another source confirmed that where orders for hundreds of items were made at a time, ordering was confined to 20 or 30 units per week.

A third source said that the issues arose as far back as March, when www.mobserver.co.za reported about workers at the depot in Middelburg picketing to be employed by the government rather than by contractors.

The picket took place a two months before a new contractor was to take charge of the depot.

Also read: Nehawu has brought the provincial pharmaceutical depot to a standstill

The previous contractor, Vikela Healthcare Logistics (previously Safarmex Medical Logistics), brought an urgent court application to try and prevent the new contractor, a joint venture between Bongani Rainmaker Logistics and Osiris Healthcare, from taking over the depot.

In court documents, Vikela brought the application alleging that the contract was irregularly awarded and that the new contractor did not have the expertise to run the depot. The application was dismissed on 1 June, on the basis of, amongst other things, a submission by the new contractors that they are able and ready to service the depot without interruption.

Vikela was then given until 20:00 on the same day to vacate the premises. A source told www.mobserver.co.za that the contractor removed all their property from the premises that same night. This included computers and furniture.

According to the source, it seemed like Bongani/Osiris did not have all the necessary equipment to commence operation of the depot after Vikela moved out, and chaos ensued, with the staff even resorting to handwritten invoices.

Several sources have confirmed that there was a serious shortage of stock, including basic supplies like saline drips, voicing concerns about being able to deliver even basic medical services, like assisting women giving birth.

A letter to the MEC of Health, Sasekani Manzini, supports the versions of sources that spoke to www.mobserver.co.za. The letter, written by the South African Association of Hospital and Institutional Pharmacists (SAAHIP), was made public by Collen Sedibe, the provincial chairperson for the EFF.

SAAHIP president Shawn Zeelie voiced concerns about the growing lists of out of stock items and the breakdown in communication with the depot in the letter. Zeelie wrote that members reported having to call other institutions to borrow stock or being left to explain to wards or patients that they cannot fulfil their requests.

He warned that PPE is imperative during the current pandemic, and the shortage of supply thereof compromises the safety of health workers and patients and disrupts efforts to curb the pandemic.

The letter reads that members have reported they cannot get hold of the depot with telephone calls unanswered.

Also read: Chaos at provincial health facilities after contract dispute

The letter refers to the initial www.mobserver.co.za report about the picket outside the depot.

“Members were unable to telephonically get hold of the depot to place emergency orders during the week of the stock-take, and were greatly surprised when they saw media publications of picketing employees at the depot,” the letter reads.

The MEC was requested to intervene to mitigate the out of stock problem and give an indication of when members can expect an improvement of the situation, and also establish proper communication channels.

• Other than stating that their name has changed from Safarmex to Vikela, the company declined to comment, saying that legal proceedings prohibits them to do so.

• Bongani Rainmaker Logistics Managing Director Oliver Schwankhart, said that they are really surprised by the media enquiry.

They were asked about allegations that they did not have equipment like computers and furniture when they moved in, that invoices are being written by hand, that there are only two qualified pharmacists at the depot, that provincial health institutions were notified that they can only order 20 or 30 units per week, and about allegations that their contract was awarded irregularly.

“We deny all of those allegations and can assure you that the Medical Depot is fully operational and clinics and hospitals are being serviced,” Mr Schwankhart wrote in response.

When asked to comment on the SAAHIP letter, Mr Schwankhart said:

“These kinds of issues can only be responded to by the spokesperson for the MPDoH. From what I can make out there is a mixed bag of issues being raised here relating to challenges preceding our time as a service provider. It is our firm resolve to correct any kind of service delivery issue, or working condition complaint, historical or current. We do not expect issues of this kind to be raised on our watch.”

• Osiris Healthcare was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline. Bongi (surname unknown) said over the phone that she would forward the enquiry to her bosses. They were asked the same questions posed to Bongani Rainmaker.

• Mr Zeelie was asked for comment on his letter to the MEC. He asked to discuss the matter but did not make contact before deadline.

• The Department of Health was asked for comment last week, and again this week, but is yet to respond.

• Just before publishing this article, information was received that all health institutions were to receive all their stock orders by Monday 5 July, with Nkangala’s orders delivered today, Thursday 1 July.

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