The Gauteng Department of Health has acknowledged medicine supply challenges at public healthcare facilities across the province, blaming supplier delays, procurement lead times and changes to medicine contracts among factors disrupting availability.
The department said on Wednesday that the shortages were affecting some medicines and conceded that the situation could cause anxiety and inconvenience, particularly for patients who rely on chronic medication.
It said measures were being implemented to prevent supply problems from interrupting treatment, including moving available stock between facilities and districts, sourcing medicines from alternative approved suppliers and providing clinically appropriate alternatives where necessary.
Supplier delays and procurement pressures hit medicine stocks
The department attributed the supply challenges to several pressures across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
“These challenges are influenced by several factors, including changes in medicine contracts, supplier delays, procurement lead times, limited supplier participation and broader pharmaceutical supply-chain pressures,” the department said.
The acknowledgement comes amid concerns about whether patients attending Gauteng’s public clinics and hospitals can consistently access the medicines prescribed to them.
However, the department stressed that the temporary absence of a particular medicine brand or pack size did not necessarily mean that a patient would go without treatment.
“Patients may receive medicines from different approved manufacturers or in different packaging while the medicine remains the same in terms of its active ingredient, strength and therapeutic benefit,” it said.
Gauteng turns to alternative medicines and emergency sourcing
Where a particular medicine, strength or pack size is unavailable, the department said its Medicine Availability and Escalation Protocol allows facilities to provide alternative pack sizes, strengths or clinically appropriate therapeutic alternatives in line with approved Standard Treatment Guidelines.
Available stock can also be shifted between healthcare facilities and, where necessary, between districts to address shortages and reduce wastage.
Facilities and districts have also been instructed to engage suppliers to speed up outstanding orders.
“As required, the Department may undertake buy-outs, meaning the sourcing of urgently needed medicines from another approved supplier, in line with Supply Chain Management processes,” the department said.
The department said it was using its Stock Visibility System to continuously monitor stock levels and identify and escalate potential shortages.
National government brought in to tackle shortages
Gauteng Health said it was working with the National Department of Health and other stakeholders to address medicine supply problems.
National interventions include monitoring medicines through the National Surveillance Centre and Stock Visibility System, identifying critical medicines through the national Hot List and tackling supply problems through the Improved Medicine Availability Team.
The national department is also engaging manufacturers, suppliers and provinces when shortages emerge, including investigating whether medicines can be sourced from other registered manufacturers when contracted suppliers cannot provide sufficient stock.
Chronic patients at risk of disruption
The provincial department acknowledged the effect shortages could have on people who depend on medication over long periods.
“The Department recognises that medicine shortages can cause anxiety and inconvenience for patients, particularly those who depend on chronic medication,” it said.
“However, medicine availability is actively monitored and interventions are implemented to minimise interruptions to treatment and ensure that available medicines are distributed as equitably as possible.”
The department said it remained committed to ensuring continuity of care for patients dependent on chronic and other essential medicines.
“The Department will continue working with the National Department of Health, suppliers, districts and health facilities to address current supply challenges and strengthen medicine availability across the province,” it said.
