Cape Town — The Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Department of Health has maintained that, while some patients have been turned away without receiving their medication, there is no medicine shortage in the province.
KZN Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, denied the claims that hospitals and clinics were experiencing a shortage of medication and said the department would find alternatives in instances where there is no medicine available, EWN reported.
Simelane-Mngadi acknowledged the problem at hand.
“It has come to our attention, however, that in some of our facilities, for reasons unknown to us right now, when patients come in, they are told that there is no medication and some of them are turned back. Now, that’s something we can’t run away from, and we’ve got information that it has been happening,” she said,
“I want to assure the people of KwaZulu-Natal that we do not have a medication shortage,” she added.
[IN PICTURES] KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi is conducting a surprise inspection at the Wentworth Hospital in the south of Durban, following reports of a shortage in chronic medication in some hospitals in the province. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/x9Cj6Dgo1Q
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 13, 2025
According to IOL, Simelane-Mngadi explained the department has a gauge (stock visibility system) that determines what is an acceptable figure in terms of stock availability.
She explained that 90% to 100% stock (green) means they have double the amount required. 80% to 90% (amber) means caution is advised and plans should be made to buy new stock. 50% to 80% means new stock should already have been ordered.
She denied the reports that the department only has 60% stock available and said that while that is true in some instances, it does not mean there is no medication at all.
She said healthcare facilities should look to each other for medication or go to the provincial depot where medicine stockpiles are kept. If the province runs out of medication, they can speak to other provinces, she added.
Acting HOD, Penny Msimango said the stock visibility system shows which districts’ availability is on green and which on amber, and said there are no reds in any KZN clinics.
[WATCH] MEC Simelane Mngadi says when certain medication is unavailable they always have an alternative to give patients to use. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/SUZ9sZIUoS
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 13, 2025
Meanwhile, ActionSA has called for Simelane-Mngadi to resign for deceitful and reckless conduct, saying she has misled and deceived the province into believing there is no medicine shortage.
In a statement, ActionSA said it exposed the dire situation in KZN hospitals and clinics, leaving vulnerable patients without any treatment. However, Simelane-Mngadi continues to mislead the public and discredit the party’s evidence.
The party said she broke her constitutional oath and code of conduct by failing to act with integrity, honesty and transparency,
The party said she has placed the health and lives of KZN residents at risk and said her blatant dishonesty was the real issue at hand.
“Therefore, we call on her to speak to her conscience and step down from office with immediate effect. A leader who lies to the public disregards the suffering of patients, breaks their oath and manipulates the truth has no place in government, it said.
“We call on KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi to step down from office with immediate effect.
A leader who lies to the public, disregards the suffering of patients and breaks their oath has no place in government!” – @Zwakelem, KZN Chairpersonhttps://t.co/vCypNl2TCx
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) February 13, 2025
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@ZANewsFlash
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
