KZN Health MEC assures no medication shortage amid speculation

KZN Health MEC assures no medication shortage amid speculation! During a walkabout at Wentworth Hospital on Thursday, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane assured the public that there is no widespread medication shortage in the province. Her remarks come in response to recent media speculation and public concerns about dwindling stock levels at various healthcare facilities.

Simelane clarified the department’s approach to stock management, using the stock visibility system (SVS) as a gauge to monitor medication availability. The SVS categorizes stock levels into three indicators: green, amber, and red.

“When we have 100% to 90% stock, we are on green, meaning we have double the required amount,” Simelane explained. “Amber, between 80% and 90%, signals caution and prompts us to plan for procurement. Below 80% but above 50%, new stock should have already been ordered.”

KZN Health MEC

Dispelling Shortage Claims

The MEC addressed rumors suggesting that the department was operating at just 60% stock availability. “It’s not true,” she asserted, though she admitted that some hospitals and specific medications had reached the 60% level.

“This doesn’t mean we don’t have medication,” Simelane clarified. “It simply means the stockpile has reduced to that level, which could be due to delayed deliveries, service provider shortages, or late orders at the facility level.”

She emphasized that even if a particular brand is unavailable, there are always alternatives. “At no given time will we say we don’t have medication at all,” she stated.

Alternative Solutions and Provincial Collaboration

Simelane outlined the department’s protocols for addressing low stock. Healthcare facilities are instructed to source medication from neighboring facilities or access the provincial depot’s stockpile. In cases where the province’s reserves are insufficient, inter-provincial assistance can be sought.

Acting Head of Department Penny Msimango provided further reassurance. “In KZN, our stock visibility system shows that most districts are in the amber range, with some in green. There are no districts in red for clinics. However, a few hospitals in some districts are marked red, and one district is marked green,” Msimango said. She added that overall medication availability across the province is between 80% and 90%.

Patient Experiences Highlight Gaps

Despite the assurances from the health department, individual patient experiences suggest gaps in stock management.

One patient described her visit to Mbalenhle Community Healthcare Centre on Sunday, where she sought treatment for flu-like symptoms, a tight chest, and asthma complications. After being nebulized for her asthma, she was referred to another section to address her flu symptoms.

“The nurse hoped my cough was dry because they didn’t have cough mixture,” the patient recalled. Instead, she was advised to add brown sugar and lemon to hot water as a home remedy.

Regarding her asthma medication, Asthavent and Budeflam, she was informed that both were out of stock. She also requested Panado but was told, “The government didn’t send us meds.”

“I’m only left with Iliadin,” the patient said. She resorted to home remedies and reported feeling somewhat better, though her cough persisted.

Department’s Commitment to Improvement

The department acknowledged the challenges faced by some patients but maintained that overall stock levels were stable. Simelane reiterated her commitment to improving stock management processes and ensuring better communication between healthcare facilities and the public.

“Our priority is ensuring that no patient leaves a healthcare facility without the care they need,” Simelane concluded.

The situation at Mbalenhle Community Healthcare Centre and other facilities highlights the complexities of managing healthcare resources in a large province like KwaZulu-Natal. While the department’s stock visibility system indicates general stability, individual patient stories point to the need for continued vigilance and improvements in stock distribution and communication.