Patients relying on public healthcare facilities in the Western Cape are facing uncertainty over essential chronic medication, with some reporting that they have returned from collection points without the treatment they need.
A Strandfontein woman in her 50s recently told TygerBurger that she received none of her hypertension medication and only some of her asthma treatment during a routine collection at the Retreat Civic Centre.
Her receipt listed several medicines as out of stock, leaving her worried about how she would manage her conditions until her next medical appointment.
The woman, who attends Retreat Day Hospital for check-ups every six months, said she had contacted the hospital for assistance but could not get through.
She also reported that a neighbour had experienced a similar problem after attending a doctor’s appointment.
With doctors having warned her about the risks of interrupting her blood pressure treatment, the prospect of going without medication has left her anxious.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has acknowledged that some medicines remain in short supply, citing supply chain pressures affecting the availability of essential treatment.
According to provincial health department spokesperson Shimoney Regter, medicine availability has been affected by several challenges, including manufacturing delays, international shipping disruptions, regulatory processes and supply chain constraints.
Delays linked to national procurement contracts have also contributed to the pressure on stock levels.
The department said it was working with suppliers, the National Department of Health and other partners to secure medicines, identify suitable alternatives and reduce disruptions to patient care.
Although supplies of certain medicines have improved, stock remains under pressure. Replenishing reserve supplies at the Cape Medical Depot will take time.
For patients managing conditions such as hypertension and asthma, these disruptions can create uncertainty around whether their next collection will include everything prescribed.
The National Department of Health has previously addressed concerns about medicines being marked out of stock at public healthcare facilities, as well as changes in the appearance and packaging of medication dispensed to patients.
It explained that a medicine looking different does not necessarily mean the treatment has changed.
Where multiple approved suppliers provide the same medicine, patients may receive products with different colours, shapes or packaging, even though they contain the same active ingredients and strength.
Healthcare professionals may also dispense clinically appropriate alternatives when a particular brand or pack size is unavailable.
However, patients should not assume that a different-looking medicine is automatically equivalent to their usual prescription.
Anyone concerned about a change should speak to a nurse, pharmacist or doctor to confirm that the medicine is appropriate for their treatment.
The department said it monitors medicine availability through systems including the National Surveillance Centre and the Stock Visibility System, which help identify potential supply problems and coordinate responses.
The shortages come as the Western Cape continues to rely on a large-scale distribution system designed to make collecting chronic medication easier for patients.
The province’s Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) prepares medication parcels for patients whose conditions are considered clinically stable, allowing them to collect treatment from healthcare facilities and approved alternative collection points.
According to provincial figures released in August 2026, the unit packs approximately two million individual medicine items into an average of 400,000 patient-specific parcels every month.
Around R42 million worth of medication is distributed monthly through the service.
During the 2025/26 financial year, the CDU recorded 3.26 million patient encounters, reflecting the scale of its role in supporting chronic care across the province.
Parcels are delivered to healthcare facilities and alternative collection points, including community centres, wellness hubs and electronic lockers. Patients receive collection dates, helping them avoid lengthy queues at clinics.
During a visit to the unit, Premier Alan Winde said its ability to maintain reserve stock covering the following six to eight weeks helped cushion the health system against supply disruptions.
Health and Wellness Minister Mireille Wenger also highlighted the benefits for patients and healthcare workers, explaining that quicker medication collections can reduce congestion and free up staff to attend to people requiring clinical care.
Despite these measures, the department acknowledged that rebuilding medicine reserves takes time as supply challenges continue.
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Western Cape’s chronic medicine service delivers 400,000 parcels monthly
Picture: Laurynas Me / Unsplash
