SA running low on essential medicines
CANCER patients and other chronic pain sufferers are in for a rough ride as stocks of well-known analgesics and several other essential drugs run low in the private and government sectors around the country.
The shortage of morphine powder in particular has been red-flagged by medical and pharmaceutical health professionals as a major concern with one organisation saying pharmacists were “scrambling” to find stocks.
They say the morphine powder is used to create a syrup and plays a key role in pain control, especially in the treatment of children with severe pain and patients receiving palliative care.
The list of shortages includes drugs used for mild or moderate pain like Betagesic and Napamol, as well as Ponstan paediatric suppositories, low dosage Panamor suppositories, pain patches and opioids like Targinact, which is used in the treatment of severe pain.
Independent on Saturday is also in possession of a list released by the Government Employees Medical Scheme, dated September 1, which indicates that there are shortages of almost 150 other essential medications, including some dosages of Metformin that is used in the treatment of diabetes, as well as medication for depression and other psychiatric illnesses.
The Independent Community Pharmacist Association (ICPA) said there were some shortages in the country that could perhaps be linked to the after effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ICPA, which represents the interests of at least 1 200 independent community pharmacy owners in South Africa, said 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients needed in the country were sourced from abroad.
However, the current drug shortages were not unique to South Africa.
ICPA CEO Jackie Maimin also raised concern about the shortage of morphine powder, which has been in short supply for at least two months.
“Pharmacies are scrambling and borrowing from each other,” she said.
The Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa (Palprac) says morphine powder is the most commonly prescribed drug in palliative care.
Palprac is a non-profit organisation consisting of various medical professionals who offer specialised care to people with serious illnesses.
Palprac chairperson Dr Julia Ambler said patients in the private sector had more options than state patients, but even then it was disruptive to change their treatment.
Senior pharmacology lecturer Andy Gray said South Africa was dependent on one supplier of morphine powder, in Cape Town, which had just received stock and that the problem was almost solved.
Stavros Nicolaou, the head of the Pharmaceutical Task Group that represents 90% of the industry in the country, said they had not yet seen any shortages.
However, there was an increase in logistics and inbound costs and price adjustments were inevitable.
The Department of Health failed to respond to specific questions about pharmaceutical shortages. Instead it reissued a statement from earlier this week in which it said there were no known shortages of contraceptives.
It said that a decision-making forum that included all the provinces was set up to address medicine supply challenges, improve medicine availability and reduce the potential impact of stock-outs.