ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has raised serious concerns over a critical shortage of essential medication in public hospitals and clinics, describing the situation as a life threatening crisis.
According to ActionSA’s KZN Provincial Chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, the Department of Health has allegedly informed healthcare facilities that medication supplies will not be replenished until April due to budget constraints.
Mncwango criticized the MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane, for failing to inform the public about the crisis. “It is disgraceful that the department has chosen to remain silent about an issue that affects the health and lives of thousands of citizens,” he said.
People have a right to know that their access to life-saving medication is at risk. Hiding this information is not only irresponsible but a violation of the public’s right to information.
ActionSA has written to the Health MEC, demanding answers to several pressing questions, including why the public has not been informed and what steps have been taken to secure emergency funding from the Cabinet and Provincial Treasury.
Other concerns raised include the apparent lack of contingency plans to prevent such a crisis and whether the Department of Health anticipated this shortage. “How many lives must be lost before the department takes action?” Mncwango asked.
In addition to the medication crisis, the provincial health department is already facing criticism for its failure to address the severe shortage of doctors in healthcare facilities. Mncwango said the combination of these failures is putting immense pressure on an already overstretched public healthcare system.
ActionSA demands that the MEC urgently address the public, disclose the full extent of this crisis, and present a clear plan to resolve it. South Africans deserve accountability, not silence.
The shortage of essential medication in public facilities is likely to have devastating consequences if left unaddressed. Patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, are particularly vulnerable. Medical professionals have expressed concern that the delay in replenishing medication supplies could result in increased hospitalizations and, in some cases, preventable deaths.
As the situation unfolds, many are waiting to see how the Department of Health and the provincial government will respond to these demands for transparency and accountability.
