Gauteng clinics out of birth control pills

Via a written correspondence to the DA Gauteng Health spokesperson Jack Bloom, MPL from the Gatueng Legislature, the Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo revealed that Gauteng clinics have run short of more than 1.2 million birth control pills this year.

According to Papo, shortages were experienced with Nordette pills from March to July and Microval pills from May to August owing to erratic demands by facilities, thus resulting in an earlier than expected stock depletion. In turn, the contracted supplier could not fulfill increased orders placed to cope with the demand. According to Bloom, this is a sorry excuse.

In some months not a single Microval or Nordette pill was delivered to public clinics. The shortage of these pills has probably led to many unplanned pregnancies and related social problems. “Family planning needs to be given a higher priority by the Gauteng Health Department which has long neglected this area, despite high demand”, said Bloom