Chronic medication shortage stresses Margate woman

The alleged shortage of some chronic medications at the Gamalakhe Community Health Centre is causing distress to patients who suffer from epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Margate resident, Cassandra Olivier, who collects her medication in Gamalakhe, said she has been told that there has been a shortage of her prescription since February.

The 41-year-old said she was recently fortunate to get a prescription that would last her for two weeks.

She said she was told that the medication was available to her because it belonged to someone else who did not collect it.

“I am looking for assistance for people to get their chronic medication. There has been a shortage for a while now. I get a prescription for epilepsy and bipolar disorder every six months. When I ask them in Gamalakhe about the lack of medication, I am told that there is a problem with the suppliers, but my question is, why are they not getting new suppliers?” she said.

Olivier said had she not gone for an operation at a government hospital in Durban in March, she would not have had any medication.

She explained that the consequences of not taking her medication correctly were bad seizures.

“I am now having seizures in my sleep that I have never had before. I have even fallen out of my bed, I have had head injuries, and I have hurt my arm and back. My body is sore, and I now battle to sit upright,” she said.

She added that she doesn’t know what she would do if the shortage of medication persisted.

“I would go to Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, but they cannot help me without a referral letter, and it is not like Port Shepstone is around the corner. Margate Clinic is also not an option because they only help with everyday sicknesses,” she said.

The person who helps her through her seizures, her mother Eileen Olivier, said it has been a very stressful time.

“I had to take her to the centre one Sunday evening because she kept having seizures. And you know, with the medication, you can’t just give her extra, and you can’t just swap and change her medication. It is terrible to see her having seizures. I have heard of cases where people end up paralyzed because of this,” she said.

The concerned mother said the lack of medication made her wonder whether the suppliers of the medication are actually being paid.

“I am not sure who can help, but I want to know what the centre is doing to improve the situation, because people can die because of this,” she said.

After a number of acknowledged inquiries sent to the KZN Department of Health, comment had not been received at the time of going to press.

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