Patients receiving treatment at Witrand Specialised Hospital are being assured that medication remains available despite the ongoing shortage of Venlafaxine 75mg and 150mg capsules in the public sector.

The shortage has affected state institutions across the country following the termination of a previous supply contract due to stock unavailability from the awarded pharmaceutical company.

According to Witrand management, a new supplier has since been appointed, but the company has indicated that the 75mg and 150mg Venlafaxine capsules are only expected to become available from September 2026.

In the meantime, the hospital has implemented contingency measures to ensure that patients continue receiving treatment.

Witrand communications manager, Nico Masiu, said patients should not be concerned that they will be left without medication.

“We cannot afford not to give alternative medication until there is supply to the hospital. Generic medication with the same efficacy as Venlafaxine is available and patients continue to receive treatment,” Masiu said.

He added that one of the challenges faced by the hospital is that some patients appear reluctant to accept generic medication despite it being clinically equivalent to the branded medicine.

“It would seem patients would not accept generic medication which has the same efficacy as the Venlafaxine,” he said.

The hospital’s Pharmaceutical Therapeutics Committee, which includes psychiatrists, meets monthly to monitor medicine availability and assess appropriate treatment alternatives.

All patients currently receiving Venlafaxine are being reviewed by prescribing clinicians to determine the most suitable alternatives, while medical officers have been trained on transitioning patients to available medication within the public sector.

Patients who can afford to obtain the medication privately are also being provided with private prescriptions.

Masiu said the hospital and the provincial pharmacy department will continue engaging with the contracted supplier and exploring alternatives while monitoring stock availability.

He emphasised that the current shortage should not be interpreted as a complete lack of treatment options.

“Medication is still available at Witrand. In some cases, it may be the generic version rather than the name-brand product, but patients are continuing to receive treatment,” he said.

Witrand also highlighted its strong record in medicine availability. In November 2025, the hospital’s pharmacy was recognised by the North West Department of Health for achieving the best overall medicine availability in the province, maintaining availability levels above the 90% target.

Hospital management said it remains committed to maintaining those standards and ensuring that patients continue receiving the medication they need.