Motsoaledi ‘accountable’ for KZNA medicine shortage
The KZN Health Portfolio Committee says the national department must take responsibility for medicine supply issues in the province.
Officials conducted an oversight visit recently at the provincial pharmaceutical supply depot.
Chairperson Dr Imran Keeka says they found that while overall stock levels are stable, alternatives are being used for some medications that aren't available.
He says supplier procurement falls under the national Health Department.
" Some of those problems where the medicines are short from the suppliers, that these are related to contracts that are concluded at a national level.
READ: Health MEC refutes public medication shortage in KZNHealth MEC refutes public medication shortage in KZN
“The Health Minister must be drawn into the accountability ecosystem and must be made to answer for some of the issues that are ongoing in KZN.
We don't have insulin pens in the province, and there is a tender process that was concluded in December, but the Department of Health nationally is just dragging its feet as far as we are aware."
Last month, provincial officials told the KZN legislature that while there had been supply issues, there's no major crisis, and no facility's run out of medicine.
