Up to 50 critical medicines, including chronic medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, are currently out of stock in the public health system. Patients who depend on state medicines have no way to get their pills, says the DA.
Michele Clarke, the DA's health spokesperson, announced on 26 October that she is requesting a special meeting of Parliament's health committee to investigate the stock shortages. She wants the following to appear before the committee:
- the health minister himself
- the Department of Health
- the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
- Pharmaceuticals Made In South Africa (Pharmisa)
- the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa
Which chronic medicines are out of stock?
According to the DA's statement the medicines that are out of stock include the following:
- amlodipine, for high blood pressure and the prevention of angina
- rosuvastatin, for high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes
- metformin, for type two diabetes and to lower blood sugar
- olanzapine, for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, especially manic episodes
- pregabalin, for nerve pain, seizures and anxiety disorders
- mebendazole, for intestinal worm infections
Risk of substitutes
The party warns that some patients may react adversely to substitute medicines. The greater concern is that patients may become afraid or confused about substitutes and then stop their treatment entirely.
According to the DA, some local manufacturers blame new SAHPRA regulations and the single exit price for a declining local pharmaceutical industry, which affects medicine availability.
Clarke asked that the committee receive a full briefing on:
- the reasons for the stock shortages
- the impact thereof
- the list of unavailable medicines
- the measures that have been taken to limit the health consequences
PAIA request filed
On 28 October, the DA filed a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) with the Department of Health. The party wants access to all reports, including internal reports, that track medicine stock between April and October 2026.
The party also says it will lodge parliamentary questions about the stock shortages and about provinces' outstanding debt.
The medication shortages that plague South Africa have an adverse impact on patients' health and place strain on the operational capacity of health facilities, says Clarke.
Department responds
The national Department of Health told The Star there are supply constraints in some districts and facilities. However, the department did not provide figures on how many patients are affected or which medicines are scarce.
In Gauteng the provincial Department of Health acknowledges that some public facilities are experiencing problems with medicine supply. The department attributes this in part to delays by suppliers, changes to medicine contracts and pressure on the broader supply chain.
According to the department, a shortage of a specific brand name or package size does not necessarily mean that a patient will be without treatment. Facilities can provide another approved manufacturer or, where clinically appropriate, an alternative medicine.
Patients at clinics
At the Mamelodi East clinic in Pretoria, Easther Chauke tells the Sunday Times that nurses instructed her 62-year-old mother with high blood pressure to break her pills in half. She must take one half in the morning and keep the other half for the following day.
What patients need to know
Do not change your dose yourself or stop your chronic medicine without first talking to the nurse or doctor at your clinic. Ask specifically if another strength, package size or approved alternative is available.
Read also: Western Cape calls for urgent intervention at ports over medicine shortage
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
