RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The DA will write to the MEC of Health, Sello Lehari, requesting him to explain how his department plans to address the insulin shortage in Bojanala Platinum District and ensure that patients receive the correct medication and dosages required for proper self-administration. This after a recent oversight visit to the Rustenburg Sub-District Pharmacy Warehouse and Job Shimankana Tabane (JST) Pharmacy Warehouse in Rustenburg, where the DA discovered a severe shortage of insulin medication in the district, severely impacting patients who rely on government healthcare.
At Tlhabane Health Centre, officials confirmed that the pharmacy has been struggling with insulin stock since November 2024. Deliveries are irregular, and when stock does arrive, it is insufficient to provide the standard three-month supply to patients.
Currently, the facility can only dispense a one-month supply, leaving patients uncertain about future access to their life-saving medication.
A visit to the JST Provincial Pharmacy Warehouse revealed further issues. While various insulin stocks were available at the hospital, the Sub-District Pharmacy had none. Actraphane, which is a combination medication for short- and long-acting insulin, was running low. There is a general shortage of self-dosing insulin pens, which necessitates the usage of vials. The self-dosing insulin pens, of which there is plenty in stock, are of two brands that are not prescribed in practice by local medical doctors; instead, the doctors prescribe Actraphane that is only available in vials. As a result, patients must use syringes to administer their insulin, which presents additional challenges. Syringes themselves are in limited supply, and patients must now, in addition, rely on glucose meters to monitor their glucose levels instead of traditional test strips, which are no longer issued; each patient must be issued a glucose meter, increasing both the financial burden on the North West Health Department and the complexity of diabetes management for patients.
It is unclear how the Department can accurately monitor the availability of insulin and other medications in health facilities, as many facilities are not linked into the central pharmacy database. This lack of integration raises concerns about how stock levels are tracked and replenished effectively.
The first step in managing this crisis would be to link all clinics, health centres, and hospitals to the Hospital Patient Registration System (HPRS) to allow the department to make informed decisions on the procurement and distribution of medication in line with the number of diabetic patients at any specific service point.
Access to life-saving medication is non-negotiable, and urgent intervention is needed.
