BOTCHED TENDERS LEAD TO MEDICINE CRISIS IN GAUTENG HOSPITALS

I have been receiving increasing reports of critical medicine shortages in Gauteng hospitals because of the late award of pharmaceutical tenders by the National Department of Health as well as the removal from contracts of certain coded medicines.

At the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, for instance, there is a shortage of Paracetemol pain killers and Morphine.

Other medicines in short supply at Bara include the following:

Sodium Bicarbonate, used for heartburn and indigestion

Suxmethonium, a muscle relaxant used in theatre by anaesthetists

Carbimazole, used for over-active thyroid

Instead of constant denial, the Gauteng Health Department should acknowledge the medicine shortages and take urgent ameliorative measures like those announced this week by the Western Cape Health Department.

These should include the following:

Allocate any available stock as soon as it is received to health facilities.

Repack certain medicines into smaller patient-ready pack sizes so that they can be distributed more widely.

Source medicine off-contract and engage with suppliers to expedite delivery.

Provide guidelines on safe use of alternative medications.

Western Cape Health Minister Theuns Botha has written to National Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi putting him on terms that his province will proceed with provincial contracts to ensure a reliable supply of essential medication for patients.

Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu needs to tell us what she us doing to ensure our hospitals have the medicines they need to provide quality care.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, November 13 2014

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