Health
Question by:
Hon Ferlon Christians
Answered by:
Hon Theunis Botha
Question Number:
4
Question Body:
Whether there is a lack of basic medicines at day hospitals; if so, what does he or his department plan to do about this?
Answer Body:
Ten pharmaceutical tenders were due for renewal during 2014. The late award of these contracts has influenced the availability and supply of medicines to the public sector.
There is currently a shortage of several essential medicines at facility level including inhalers for the management of asthma and COPD [chronic obstructive airways disease].
Facilities have a SOP [standard operating procedures] in place to manage short supplies and stock is moved between facilities to where it is needed the most.
The Cape Medical Depot is using best endeavours to source medicine off-contract from alternate suppliers.
Date:
Friday, September 26, 2014
