One in seven medicines unavailable in South Africa’s public system
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day (South Africa)
One in seven medicines normally supplied by South Africa’s public health system is unavailable or at risk of running out, according to the national Department of Health. The shortages notably affect treatments for hypertension, cancer and psychiatric disorders, Business Day reports.
The shortages notably affect treatments for hypertension and cancer, while psychotropic medicines such as olanzapine and quetiapine are among the products concerned, Business Day reports. The South African Society of Psychiatrists estimates that replacing these treatments with less suitable alternatives can cause serious side effects or a relapse requiring hospitalisation.
Disruptions to global supply chains account for some of the shortages, including transport delays linked to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and shortages of active pharmaceutical ingredients produced by a limited number of manufacturers, according to Business Day. But South Africa’s private sector is much less affected, with alternatives generally available, while the Independent Community Pharmacists Association reports difficulties for only a limited number of medicines.
South Africa has one of the most developed pharmaceutical industries in sub-Saharan Africa, but it still imports more medicines than it exports, according to Business Day. The national Department of Health also publishes a “hotlist” of medicines facing critical shortages, which includes products whose supply depends on manufacturers experiencing difficulties.
