Questions asked over dumping of R2m medication

THE Kwazulu-natal Department of Health is being asked why it dumped expired medication worth more than R2 million last year when it could have cut costs by returning it.

This includes oral vaccines for polio that were unusable as a result of a “freezer failure”.

The DA claimed this week that the department had failed to take advantage of a protection clause which allowed for the medication to be returned.

The party also lashed out at the “shocking conditions, poor management and lack of vigilance” within the provincial pharmaceutical supply depot, where staff were allegedly negligent and contributed to a shortage of polio vaccines.

In a written parliamentary reply sent to the party, the department confirmed it had to get rid of R2141984 worth of antibiotics, antiretrovirals, vaccines, oncology medicine and psychiatric medication.

“This situation demands answers and we expect the MEC to account. Apart from being a massive waste, it raises serious questions about the supply chain and the general management of pharmaceutical supplies,” said the DA’S KZN health representative, Dr Imran Keeka.

He said that when the department faced a financial battle it was not acceptable to throw over R2m “in the bin”.

“We will call for the MEC to provide a full report on the issue of expired medication which must include a detailed breakdown for specific public hospitals and clinics in the province. We also want clarity on the medicine stock levels,” said Keeka.

The department said it handled more than R4bn worth of medicine.

Spokesperson Ncumisa Mafunda said the department’s pharmacy services had systems in place to ensure medicines were handled correctly.

“In this case, the expiries could not have been averted and the stock could not be returned to the suppliers,” said Ncumisa.

She said the items were not on contract and had been purchased through a buy-out process on quotation.

“When buying out on quotation, the suppliers do not provide the protection for stock to be returned,” said Mafunda.

nabeelah.shaikh@inl.co.za