Over 5 million patients collect medication in health facilities across Gauteng- 16 September 2020

Office of the Premier 2020/09/15 - 22:00



Kwanele Ximba

Acting MEC for Health, Jacob Mamabolo is pleased that over five million patients collected their medication in health facilities across the province in the past financial year. 

Mamabolo said this was an indication of the Gauteng’s health system’s capability to deliver quality healthcare.

 In 2019, 5 465 003 patients collected their medication from pharmacies in state hospitals.

Mamabolo noted that despite the increasing volume of people visiting the provincial health facilities continue to meet its obligation.

“This affirms the resilience of our health system and the state of readiness towards the implementation of the universal health coverage (National Health Insurance),” said Mamabolo.

  • The department has put measures in place to tackle any shortage of medication.  These include the following: Weekly monitoring of medicine availability at the pharmacy store which provides an opportunity to source stock before it impacts service delivery;
  • Follow ups are made with suppliers to expedite delivery, when an item has exceeded the lead time;
  • ​Movement of and borrowing of stock between facilities where possible
  • Ensuring adequate stock holding for the suppliers with longer lead times
  • Imposing penalties on non-performing suppliers;
  • Payment of suppliers within 30 days, to ensure that accounts are not placed on hold; and
  • Buy-out against suppliers who cannot supply the medication and have exceeded on the contractual lead time.

MEC Mamabolo further stated that the average waiting time to collect medication at the government hospital pharmacies was within the norms and standards for waiting time but noted that there was room for improvement.

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