MEDICINES taken during the recent looting in KZN and Gauteng can endanger the health of users, as they will not be taken with proper medical supervision.
This was the warning issued by South Africa’s statutory health regulatory bodies following the rampant looting that saw stock stolen from many pharmacies and healthcare facilities throughout the province.
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The medical representatives include those from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC), South African Nursing Council (SANC) and South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) together with the National Department of Health.
Sahpra CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela issued an appeal to citizens involved in looting and destroying healthcare infrastructure to ‘consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the health of communities’.
‘We are working closely with the National Department of Health to ensure the provision of healthcare and essential medicines, including chronic medicines and vaccines,’ said Semete-Makokotlela.
‘We also urge people to report illegal activity to Sahpra or law enforcement agencies.’
Reporting such illegal activity to Sahpra can be done via email on mokgadi.fafudi@sahpra.org.za
She said the impact of the destruction on public health is already being felt, with community members deprived of healthcare, chronic patients unable to access medication, and Covid-19 vaccine sites and vaccines lost.
‘Targeting pharmacies, doctors practices, clinics and other healthcare institutions, in the midst of a pandemic is detrimental, especially to the old, frail and vulnerable people,’ she said.
‘Without healthcare services, medicines and vaccines, we will have unnecessary deaths and cause further pandemonium, including severe damage to the economy.’
