Medicine shortage at Helen Joseph
WESTDENE – Helen Joseph Hospital still faces drug shortages and residents are worried about their health.
The Gauteng Health Department recently announced that the drug shortage issue in Gauteng hospitals had been resolved; however, some Helen Joseph Hospital patients say they have not received medication from the hospital for months.
“I go to Helen Joseph for treatment and medication. I have a bad ulcer that bleeds if not treated. For the past six to seven months I have not been able to get medication. They say they don’t have some of the medicines for patients,” said patient Ricky Breen.
The pensioner has not worked for four years and this has caused financial strain.
“The doctor there just gives me a prescription and I have to buy. I don’t have money and it has been very difficult for me. I have spent over R3 000 buying medicine.
”My worry is not just for me but for all the other people who are sick and might die because of this.”
Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom confirmed that there is a shortage of certain medicines at Helen Joseph Hospital.
“In one case [recently], a 76-year-old pensioner was told they did not have her blood pressure and water tablets, and she was given a script to buy it herself, which cost her more than R200,” he said.
“This is an outrageous situation. In December last year, the Gauteng Health Department said that only 77 per cent of medicines on the Essential Drug List were available, but special measures would be taken to procure medicine.
”There has been some improvement, but I still get complaints about medicine shortages at various hospitals.”
The Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Prince Hamnca said there were problems with acquisition of medication toward the end of last year when the contracts expired and new tenders were awarded to new companies.
“This transition created a temporary shortage of drugs in our hospitals. The situation in the majority of our hospitals has since been stabilised.”
According to Hamnca, the situation is almost normal as more and more companies have built their stock levels to acceptable levels.
“Where possible, patients are provided with alternative medications in the same class of drugs. Generally, we source stock that we do not have from other facilities in the province. The situation has almost normalised now as most of the stock that was not available at the time of switch-over of companies is now available. Ms Ricky Breen is requested to come back to the hospital pharmacy so her concerns could be addressed.”
