The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is calling on Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to investigate reports of nationwide drug shortages. These shortages are affecting the treatment of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
In a statement, SASOP says it has been receiving reports from its members in recent months regarding the shortage of essential medications for the treatment of mental disorders in the public health sector.
It says the shortages appear to affect the whole country, but most reports have come from members in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Devastating
SASOP’s Dr Mvuyiso Talatala says the shortage affects the treatment of all mental disorders, but of particular concern is that there are several drug stockouts for the treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
Some psychiatrists report that management in some hospitals prohibits them from issuing private prescriptions for families who want to consider purchasing some drugs from private pharmacists when there are psychotropic drug stockouts, adds Talatala.
SASOP says psychiatrists could consider alternative drugs for the treatment of mental disorders, but these medications are very limited and soon to run out as well.
Talatala explains, for instance, that psychiatrists have used the more expensive amisulpride when there is a shortage of olanzapine for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, amisulpride is in limited supply and will eventually run out.
Adding to that, in some cases, even if such an alternative is considered, patients may still relapse as they are only responsive to their usual medication.
“The impact of the psychotropic drug shortages is devastating to patients, health facilities and the community at large,” remarks Talatala.
“Relapses that patients are at risk of are harmful to the patients’ overall health and prove to be even more difficult to treat.”
When patients relapse, there is increased utilisation of hospital beds that are already a scarce resource. This leaves patients waiting for beds in hospital emergency departments for hours to days, he says.
Human rights abuses
Patients who are waiting for beds in emergency departments suffer a variety of human rights abuses, as emergency departments are not designed to be hospital wards, the emergency staff are not trained to nurse patients with mental illness, and the processes of emergency departments are not suitable for inpatient care, he adds.
SASOP cautioned that the use of emergency departments as waiting areas for psychiatric beds compromises the care of patients with other medical emergencies.
According to the organisation, hospital management and provincial departments of health have offered several explanations for the drug shortages. Still, none explain why so many drugs from different pharmaceutical companies across multiple disease areas would run out at once.
Therefore, it urges Motsoaledi to investigate this “disastrous” situation and provide a speedy resolution for the sake of patients and the community.
It added that it is available to engage with the minister on this matter and assist where possible.
