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The Democratic Alliance (DA) urgently wants a full explanation from the Northern Cape Health Department on how it intends dealing with life threatening medication shortages in the province.

In September, the department reported a steady decline in the average medicine availability. The department attributed this to suppliers refusing delivery in cases where the outstanding accounts were not settled. It also conceded that cashflow constraints were hampering the payment of accounts and that in addition to stock-outs in districts, certain medicines are also not available at the provincial medical depot.

The DA initially raised concern regarding a spate of assaults at the new mental hospital in Kimberley after nine incidents of assault were caused by adverse drug reactions triggered by the switch in treatment due to the Clopazine being out of stock. Clopazine is an antipsychotic agent used to control violence and aggression in patients suffering from Schizoaffective and Bipolar Disorders.

We also submitted questions regarding patients who presented with bone marrow suppression caused by one of the Drug Resistant TB drugs. The drug was stopped and blood transfusions were given. We are still awaiting a response as to whether the adverse effects were also triggered by a switch in treatment due to out-of-stocks of the regular medication.

Our initial concerns are amplified after it came to light that over 300 medicines, most from the essential medicines list, are out of stock in Pixley ka Seme district, and presumably other districts too. Some of these medications have been out of stock for three months.

The list of stockouts is extensive and ranges from basic pain medication like Panado to Anti-Retrovirals,  steroids, thyroid medication, glucose drips, diabetes medication, blood pressure medication, medicine to treat Ischemic-heart disease, anti-cholestrol drugs, medication for eye infections, antibiotics, tetanus, rabies immune globulin, nebulizers, vitamins for pregnant women which can result in babies experiencing spinal cord defects, lubricating jelly for procedures like inserting catheters, anti-epileptic medication to stop convulsions, disinfectants for cleaning surgical equipment, drips, flu vaccines and much more.

Stock-outs can have adverse effects and even prove fatal.

The DA has submitted questions to obtain a comprehensive list of stock-outs across the province, including outstanding debt owed to pharmaceutical companies, as well as plans to mitigate the situation and prevent the unnecessary loss of life through lack of medication.

Issued by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL - DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate