Gauteng hospitals and clinics are not receiving all the vital and essential medicines they need, with the problem being particularly bad on the East Rand.

According to a recent presentation by the Gauteng Health Department to the Health Committee of the Gauteng Legislature, there was 98.13% availability of essential medicines at health facilities from April 2016 to March this year. The report said while vital medicines stocks rated 98.56% availability for this period, this was below the target of 99% availability.

“The real target should be closer to 100%, as even a 1% drop means thousands of patients not receiving their correct medicine,” said Jack Bloom of the Democratic Alliance…..more