Retreat clinic medicine shortages frustrate patients as Western Cape seeks national help

Patients reportedly face long waiting times and medicine shortages at Retreat Community Health Centre

Patients at Retreat Community Health Centre are facing medicine shortages and long queues, with some residents repeatedly returning to the facility without receiving the medication they need, according to Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate.

Southgate said his office had received several complaints, adding that the situation was placing further pressure on residents who already struggle to reach the facility.

“I have received several complaints from residents regarding the shortage of certain meds,” he told IOL Media.

He said patients were being told to return to the centre repeatedly, sometimes leaving without their medication.

“It raises their levels of anxiety and adds another layer of stress to an already stressful life,” he said.

Southgate said his office was being used as a collection point for some patients’ medication to reduce the need for them to queue at the clinic.

“My office is already being used as a collection point for patients to collect meds,” he said.

However, he said the arrangement could not help when medicines were out of stock.

“All we can do is appeal to Provincial and National to procure the meds,” he said.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness acknowledged that Retreat CHC was experiencing high demand but said all patients presenting for care were assisted.

Monique Johnstone, assistant director of communication for District Health Services, said the facility managed approximately 750 patient visits a day, including appointments and walk-ins.

“While management is currently in the process of filling three posts, we can reassure you that all patients who present for care are assisted and are not turned away,” Johnstone told IOL Media.

She said the centre had five full-time medical officers, three sessional medical officers, three community service medical officers, two medical interns, depending on rotation schedules, and four clinical nurse practitioners.

On waiting times, Johnstone said walk-in patients were prioritised according to the urgency of their condition.

“Walk-in patients are prioritised according to the urgency of their condition, which may result in longer waiting times during busy periods,” she said.

Patients with stable chronic conditions could be assessed by a doctor and enrolled to collect their medication from an offsite chronic dispensing venue, helping them avoid long queues at the clinic.

Johnstone added that the department had not received formal complaints relating to waiting times over the previous three months.

The department said the medicine supply challenges at Retreat were part of a wider national problem.

“Medicine supply challenges are currently being experienced nationally and are affecting all provinces, including the Western Cape,” Johnstone said.

She said healthcare teams were monitoring stock levels, redistributing medicines where possible and providing suitable alternatives when needed.

Western Cape Health and Wellness Minister Mireille Wenger has approached national Transport Minister Barbara Creecy over possible delays in the delivery of essential medicines.

In a statement shared with IOL Media on Thursday, Wenger said she had written to Creecy asking for help to identify and remove bottlenecks at South African ports that could be further delaying medicine supplies.

The letter specifically raised concerns about delays at Durban harbour.

“This is about protecting the health, well-being and dignity of patients who depend on these medicines,” Wenger said.

“Every unnecessary delay in getting medicines into the country is another delay in getting them to the patients who need them.”

She said healthcare facilities were already experiencing significant medicine supply constraints and that avoidable delays could not be allowed to make the situation worse.

The department said imported medicines had to undergo quality testing before being distributed to healthcare facilities. The process could take between three and four weeks.

“Patient safety must always come first, and the necessary testing processes cannot be compromised,” Wenger said.

Wenger has also raised the issue with National Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and called for medicine supply challenges to be prioritised at the National Health Council.