Dozens of Essential Medicines Out of Stock in South Africa's Public Clinics and Hospitals

Published 2026-10-27

A shortage of important medicines is affecting the public healthcare system in South Africa. Michele Clarke, the health spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA), says that up to 50 critical medicines are currently out of stock in public hospitals and clinics.

Critical medicines are drugs that patients need for serious or long-term health conditions. When these medicines are not available, patients may have to wait longer for treatment, travel to another facility, or pay for medicines at a private pharmacy, which many people cannot afford. The DA has raised concerns that these shortages put the health of vulnerable patients at risk.

The report does not give a full list of the affected medicines, and it is not clear how long each shortage will last. Public health facilities have been dealing with supply problems for some time, and the government has said it is working to improve the way medicines are ordered, stored and delivered across the country.

For South African patients, the situation means it is important to ask their clinic or pharmacy whether a medicine is available before they travel. Patients who cannot get their medicine should speak to a health worker, who may be able to find an alternative or arrange a transfer to another facility. More updates are expected as the health department and opposition parties continue to discuss the issue.

Sources: The Common Sense

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