Medicine shortages at hospitals and clinics across ANC-governed province

Hospitals and clinics across the North West province have been plagued by constant medicine shortages, impacting the quality of healthcare for citizens.

This is the warning from Michal Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus’ deputy national chairperson and a member of the North West Provincial Legislature.

He said the North West Department of Health is characterised by institutional decay, corruption and mismanagement.

“The department was under administration from 2018 to 2022, but there has been no visible improvement,” he said.

The impact this has on North West residents who are dependent on the state’s medical services is enormous.

Many patients with life-threatening chronic medical conditions are regularly turned away at clinics and hospitals due to medicine shortages.

Groenewald said that there are many reasons for the state of affairs, including corruption and mismanagement.

It has reached a point where many suppliers of medicines and medical supplies refuse to do business with the province due to non-payment or late payments.

“During an oversight visit to the Mmabatho Medical Depot in 2022, unpaid invoices dating back to 2014 were discovered,” he said.

“Only 30% of the medication and 17% of other medical materials ordered are actually delivered to clinics and hospitals.”

Groenewald said this indicates there is very little to no stock control or management at hospitals and clinics.

“The Department is deeply affected by administrative red tape, mismanagement, and incompetence,” he said.

“It is crucial to eradicate the institutional decay, corruption and mismanagement in the North West’s Department of Health.”

The only way to do this, he said, is to restore discipline and professionalism to its administration.

“Internal capacity to perform core functions, such as the distribution and control of medicines and other stock, should be established,” he said.

“This will ensure sustainable service delivery. Appointing consultants and contractors to perform departmental functions is not the solution.”