DA calls on Minister Motsoaledi to account to Parliament on ongoing meds shortages
8 June 2015
The Democratic Alliance has today called for a parliamentary briefing on the ongoing stock-outs of essential medicines in our public healthcare facilities.
Just last week Minister Motsoaledi denied the stock-outs. However this week 20 essential medicines are being flown into the country on emergency flights to address the shortages.
The Minister has also now conceded that there are extreme challenges with stock management at provincial depots and public medical facilities.
I will write to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson on Health, Lindelwa Dunjwa, to request that she call on Minister Motsoaledi to appear before the committee and answer critical questions relating to stock-outs.
This flip-flopping in relation to shortages of essential medicines cannot continue. Minister Motsoaledi needs to account to Parliament on:
What went wrong with the procurement processes in the various provinces?
Who signs off on the tenders and payments for medication?
Which pharmaceutical companies are being used and why?
Are we getting bang for buck with the acquisition of certain medication?
Essential medicines are critical for the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of our society and this simply cannot be ignored.
We are cautiously optimistic that the intervention by Minister Motsoaledi to have these essential medications flown-in will alleviate some of the dire shortages in the interim.
However the systemic problems leading to medicine stock-outs will remain if the Department does not stage a lasting intervention.
Three weeks ago, the Public Service Commission (PSC) found that the North West and Free State provinces had challenges regarding the timely delivery of ordered medical stock. Late payments due to inept management in the Free State were identified as a key challenge towards the delivery of medicine.
The other provinces would benefit from emulating the system in the DA-run Western Cape, in which the PSC found the distribution system (Cape Medical Depot) to be highly effective with the transportation of medical supplies. In addition, the Western Cape has regularly kept buffer stock to ensure zero shortages of medicines.
Stock-outs is not a new phenomenon. Minister Motsoaledi would do well to get to grips with the matter and make it a priority to root out all issues relating to supply chain management irregularities.
Statement issued by Dr Heinrich Volmink MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Health, June 8 2015
