South Africa's North West Province Health System Faces Medication Shortages, Forum4SA Says

Mafikeng — South Africa's North West Province public healthcare system is facing shortages of critical medication, with some patients reportedly being turned away or sent home without treatment, opposition lobby group Forum for South Africa (Forum 4 SA) has said.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 10, Forum 4 SA said essential medication for people living with diabetes was reportedly scarce or unavailable at a significant number of public healthcare facilities in the province.

The organisation also said family planning medication was reportedly unavailable at some facilities.

“This is not merely an administrative failure. This is a public health crisis that places people's lives at risk,” Forum 4 SA national leader, Tebogo Mashilompane said in the statement.

The organisation expressed particular concern over the situation in communities such as Madibeng, where it said residents were already facing challenges in accessing public services.

Forum 4 SA cited the case of a Madibeng patient who reportedly received only one bottle of diabetes medication for an entire month, despite the supply not being sufficient to last until the patient’s next collection.

The organisation said the case raised questions about medication forecasting, procurement, distribution and stock management within the provincial health system.

“How can government expect patients to manage chronic illnesses when the health system cannot guarantee the medication they need?” Tebogo said.

Forum 4 SA called for the immediate dismissal of the North West Health Member of the Executive Council (MEC), accusing the provincial health authorities of failing to ensure reliable access to essential medication.

It also called for an urgent province-wide audit of medication availability at public healthcare facilities and a full investigation into procurement, stock management and distribution.

The organisation further called for immediate intervention to ensure diabetic patients receive sufficient medication for their prescribed treatment period and for the restoration of family planning medication supplies.

It also demanded accountability for officials it said were responsible for persistent shortages and poor planning, as well as regular public reporting on medication stock levels at clinics and hospitals.

“Forum 4 SA rejects the normalisation of patients arriving at public healthcare facilities only to be told that their medication is unavailable,” the organisation said.

“People should not have to choose between going without treatment and risking their lives," they said.

Forum 4 SA further said healthcare was a basic service and called on the North West Government to address the reported shortages.

“Healthcare is a basic service, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford private medical care,” Tebogo said.

The Department of Health at the beginning of September however sought to reassure the public that there is no medicine supply crisis.

Department spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said reported shortages could in some cases involve a particular brand, pack size or supplier rather than the medicine itself, with healthcare workers able to provide clinically appropriate alternatives to ensure continuity of treatment.

“In many cases, a specific brand, pack size or supplier's product may be temporarily unavailable, while an equivalent medicine remains available and accessible,” he is quoted in the South African media having said.

The department said medicine supplies were being monitored through the National Surveillance Centre and the Stock Visibility System, which provide early warnings of potential shortages.

Mohale said it was working with provinces, healthcare facilities, suppliers and regulators to minimise disruptions and ensure continued access to “safe, effective and quality-assured medicines.”