Chronic Medicine Stock-Outs

Statement by Michele Clarke MP – DA Spokesperson on Health:

The DA is raising a red flag on a serious stock-out of chronic medicines in the public healthcare system. Currently up-to 50 critical medicines are out of stock, and patients whose health and wellbeing depends on state medicine have no way to access their pills.

The DA is taking this serious matter to Parliament, for an urgent probe into how far-reaching this crisis is, and why it has happened. I am seeking a special committee meeting for the Health Committee to investigate these stockouts, calling for appearances by the Minister of Health himself, the Department of Health, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), Pharmaceuticals Made In South Africa (Pharmisa), and the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa.

Medicines currently out of stock include:

• Amlodipine, for treating high blood pressure and prevention of angina,
• Rosuvastatin, for treating high cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes,
• Metformin, for type 2 diabetes, and lowering blood sugar,
• Olanzapine, for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, particularly episodes of mania,
• Pregabalin, for treating nerve pain, seizures and anxiety disorders, and
• Mebendazole, for eradicating intestinal worm infections.

A considerable risk is that some patients might experience adverse reactions to the replacement medications, and an overarching risk that concerns the DA very much, is that some patients might be fearful of replacement medication or confused by replacements and then stop their treatment.

The DA has reports of some local drug manufacturers blaming new SAHPRA regulations and the single exit price (SEP) as contributing to a declining local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, which impacts medication availability. Parliament must probe this, so that we can bring an end to medicine stock-outs.

I have asked that the Health Committee seeks a full briefing on the reasons for the stockouts, the impact of the stockouts, the list of medications unavailable, and what measures have been implemented to negate the negative health impacts on the citizens of South Africa.

The DA believes that the people of South Africa who rely on the public healthcare system for critical and chronic medication should be able to rely on it without exception.