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The Eastern Cape Department of Health has blamed a recent strike for the shortage of a range of medicines, including medication for hypertension and epilepsy, as well as a shortage of pregnancy tests and drips used in emergency trauma cases.
The Department said the strike had hampered services in health facilities around the province.
Algoa FM News has learned of a list of at least 20 medical supplies which are in shortage supply around the province.
These include medicine to treat bacterial infections, antibiotics, epilepsy, and medication used for women in labour.
Nurses at various state hospitals have been turning away patients as medicine stock runs dry, according to a source.
The Democratic Alliance in the province has written to the Health MEC, Nomakosazana Meth, to intervene, saying clinics in Nelson Mandela Bay, Sarah Baartman, and Joe Gqabi Districts were reportedly turning away patients with chronic conditions because they do not have medication for them.
Shadow MEC for Health, Jane Cowley, said the department was failing patients who suffer from Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Diabetes.
She said patients were being forced to "default on treatments" that are crucial to their well-being, and in some cases, their survival was a big problem.
“It is alleged that the medicine depot in Gqeberha is in turmoil, because of incompetent managers and disgruntled employees. It is further alleged that the roof of the depot, which collapsed in bad weather two years ago, has never been properly repaired and poses a risk to the employees,” Cowley said.
“The most damning allegation, however, is that of non-payment to suppliers of chronic medications, hence the shortages in stock.”
Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson, Yonela Dekeda, says they were working around the clock to clear the backlog by ensuring that medicines are transported daily to health facilities.
She said the recent hijacking of the truck delivering medication in Gqeberha had contributed to the backlog, hampering the Department's recovery plans.
Speaking on strengthening pharmaceutical services, in general, Dekeda said the EC Health Department was recruiting 110 Pharmacist Assistants this financial year.
“Ten of those will be allocated at the Gqeberha depot with another 10 allocated to the Mthatha depot. The rest will be allocated to various health facilities around the province,” she added.
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