By Priya Ranchod
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has acknowledged ongoing challenges affecting the availability of certain medicines at some healthcare facilities across the province, citing a range of supply chain and procurement-related factors.
According to GDoH spokesperson Steve Mabona, the shortages are influenced by changes in medicine contracts, supplier delays, procurement lead times, limited supplier participation, and broader pressures within the pharmaceutical supply chain.
To manage the situation, the Department has implemented systems that continuously monitor medicine availability and identify potential supply risks. These include the Stock Visibility System, which provides real-time visibility of stock levels and helps health authorities detect and escalate potential shortages. These provincial monitoring measures operate alongside medicine availability monitoring and escalation structures managed by the National Department of Health.
Mabona explained that it is important to distinguish between the temporary unavailability of a specific brand, pack size or supplier's product and the complete absence of treatment for patients. In many cases, patients may receive medication from a different approved manufacturer or in alternative packaging while still receiving the same active ingredient, strength and therapeutic benefit.
Where a specific medicine, strength or pack size is unavailable, the Department follows its Medicine Availability and Escalation Protocol, which allows for the use of alternative pack sizes, strengths and clinically appropriate therapeutic substitutes in line with approved Standard Treatment Guidelines.
The Department also implements several measures to improve access to medicines. Available stock may be rotated between facilities and districts to increase availability and reduce wastage. Facilities and district offices work directly with suppliers to expedite outstanding orders, while urgent medicine requirements may be addressed through approved buy-outs from alternative suppliers in accordance with Supply Chain Management processes.
As part of its broader response, the GDoH works closely with the National Department of Health and other stakeholders to address supply challenges. National interventions include monitoring medicine availability through the National Surveillance Centre and Stock Visibility System, identifying critical shortages via the national Hot List, and addressing supply concerns through the Improved Medicine Availability Team.
The National Department of Health also engages manufacturers, suppliers and provincial departments to mitigate shortages. These efforts include investigating supplies from other registered manufacturers when contracted suppliers cannot meet demand and promoting the responsible use of available stock where appropriate.
The Department acknowledges that medicine shortages can cause concern and inconvenience, particularly for patients dependent on chronic medication. However, it emphasises that medicine availability is being actively monitored and that interventions are in place to minimise treatment disruptions and ensure that available stock is distributed as equitably as possible.
Mabona said the Department remains committed to ensuring continuity of care for patients who rely on chronic and other essential medicines and will continue working with national authorities, suppliers, districts and healthcare facilities to strengthen medicine availability across Gauteng.