Is there a shortage of chronic meds at clinics and hospitals?

Despite public complaints about the shortage of essential medicines at public hospitals and clinics, the KZN Department of Health has rubbished these claims.

ActionSA KZN leader Zwakele Mncwango recently raised concerns about the ongoing shortage of essential medication in government hospitals and clinics.

He said the provincial Department of Health recently informed healthcare facilities that due to budget constraints, medications will only be replenished in April.

Mncwango said this placed thousands of lives at risk, saying that Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane must take full accountability and immediately provide the public with the truth about this crisis.

The department’s provincial spokesperson, Ntokozo Maphisa, said after visits to the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supply Depot in Clairwood, Victoria Mxenge Regional Hospital in Umbilo, and the Cato Manor Community Health Centre, they can categorically refute these claims.

Maphisa said inspections revealed that sufficient stocks of essential medications are available and accessible to healthcare facilities.

However, the Fever asked South Coasters whether they are aware of the shortage.

Sharon Borman said her son is diabetic and collects medication at the Gamalakhe Health Centre monthly.

“They give him a slip to return after two weeks to get a top-up, and even then, it is not guaranteed that they will have stock. They say they have no stock, and they are waiting for it to arrive,” she said.

Simlindile Makhanya said she has been trying to collect high blood pressure and arthritis medication for her grandmother at Phangandawo Clinic in Izingolweni for three weeks and has been told that the medication is not available.

A Gamalakhe resident who did not want to be named said she has been struggling to get Exemestane, a hormone blocker for cancer, from Addington Hospital in Durban.

She said she was supposed to collect the medication monthly, but she was told by the health institution that the supplier was allegedly not paid, and they did not know when the medication could be available.

Meanwhile, Maphisa is still adamant that ActionSA’s Mncwango is spreading fake news.

Maphisa said that as an influential public figure, Mncwango had a responsibility to ensure that his statements were accurate and based on verified information.

“As part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations and maximise the use of state resources in an environment of limited funding, the department was monitoring procurement processes to ensure that healthcare facilities procure only the supplies they need. It was important to acknowledge the difficulties posed by ongoing budgetary constraints. We remain committed to ensuring the availability of essential services, including chronic medication, to all patients who rely on them,” he said.

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