Drugs shortage risk to patients

Many borrowing, and sharing, medicines

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18

T2015 HE CAPE Metro Health Forum has alleged that the ongoing chronic medication shortage has put the lives of patients at risk, with many defaulting on their treatment while others borrowed medicines without prescriptions.

Damaris Kiewiets, chairwoman of the forum, said the shortage in the province has become so bad that patients who depended on these life-saving drugs were now rationing medication among themselves without the permission of their doctors.

“Most have no choice but to borrow from each other as they can’t afford to buy from the pharmacy.

“A lot of times if people have the same condition they break tablets in half so they can all get, but the risk is that although they have the same disease, the dosage is often not the same. By borrowing from each other they are putting their lives at risk,” she said.

There is a nationwide shortage of chronic medication.

While the provincial Department of Health couldn’t confirm which drugs were affected by the shortage, previous reports suggest some antibiotics, cardiovascular preparations, analgesics and central nervous system medication were not available.

Sithembiso Magubane, spokesman for the department, confirmed that the Cape Medical Depot had intermittent shortages of medicines, “but these are usually resolved within two weeks”.

“Facilities should have sufficient stock on hand to tie them over in these instances.

“There are mechanisms in place to move stock around within the province to address short-term stockouts,” he said.

Magubane blamed the stockouts on the Department of Health’s medicine tenders awarded late last year.

“The department receives quantities of stock each day, allocates them to facilities and distributes in smaller quantities so as to ensure that the medicines received are distributed across the department to its hospitals and clinics,” he said.

Kiewiets said while others bought these medicines privately, others defaulted as the department didn’t provide alternative medication for those who had run out.

“This has become a burden for everyone. In the end it will leave people sicker than they were.

“Others who hadn’t had their symptoms for years are now sick again.

“It’s a crisis and the department is not doing anything to resolve it.

“It’s been going on for the past few years now and there is no hope of it stopping anytime soon,” she said.

THIS HAS BECOME A BURDEN FOR EVERYONE. IT WILL LEAVE PEOPLE SICKER THAN THEY WERE