South Africa provinces face drug 'stock-outs' due to overspending

As a result of enormous provincial overspends, provinces of South Africa have seen health facilities across the country running out of lifesaving medicines, ranging from hypertension drugs and pediatric vaccinations to tuberculosis and HIV treatment, report Anso Thom and Lungi Langa for Health-e.

New budgets were expected to kick in on April 1, but the situation is dire at many hospitals and clinics, especially those in rural areas. Health-e has received 'stock-out' reports from doctors, nurses and pharmacists in all provinces except the Northern Cape and NorthWest (although this does not mean there are no shortages).

However, provincial media representatives in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng denied that there were any stock outs. Reports from the Eastern Cape detailed stock outs at Thafalofefe, Mthatha General, Cecilia Makiwane, Zithulele and Madwaleni hospitals.