Polokwane - The Health and Social Development Department in Limpopo has admitted that some clinics in the province have gone without medicine but that it was working to improve the situation.
Department spokesperson Phuti Seloba said the department had to rotate medicine stock due to problems with medicine tender distribution processes at national level.
"We embarked on stock rotations to ensure that facilities which had more stock share with those that did not have. At some point we would ask patients to come back in the afternoon or give them treatment for two weeks instead of a month long package," said Seloba.
Seloba said the provincial department had already taken over the Pharmaceutical Depot in the province to ensure that there was enough stock, especially for HIV and Aids patients.
He said the takeover included the purchasing and warehousing of medical stock.
However, distribution would temporarily remain outsourced to avoid challenges the department has no capacity to manage yet.
"This process will see the department making huge savings that will be channelled to improving the quality of health care in the province. We will also improve efficiency and effectiveness, with increased management capacity in the distribution of medicines and improving drug availability in all our facilities," added Seloba.
He urged Limpopo residents to work with government and ensure that pride and dignity was restored.
