Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - December 11, 2008
Other chronic medicines would also run out due to the lack of money, Elke de Witt said.
"Stocks must run out if you do not have money to replenish them."
The department announced its financial problems on November 14.
"We have said it from the start that no new patients would be accommodated and only existing patients would be serviced."
De Witt said the department had had to make some tough decisions about its finances.
She said it was not known when the situation would change.
On November 12 the national health department announced steps to help the Free State's shortage of ARVs, caused by budget constraints.
Amongst the measures announced was the immediate transfer of R9,5-million to buy essential drugs for patients on the ARV programme.
The Volksblad newspaper reported on Thursday that some 170 medicines were out of stock at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein.
These included medicines to treat TB, asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure and hypertension and some antibiotics.
The Free State health department had issued a circular telling hospital personnel to do only "absolutely essential services".
"The department acknowledges that due to the possible non-treatment of patients and lack of stock it might face legal action," the report read.
The health department would take full responsibility in such cases, the report noted.
De Witt said government officials were "working very hard" to solve the financial problems.
"A lot of people (officials) are very worried. The situation is seen as very serious by all the stakeholders."
The provincial health department's cost containment measures, announced on November 25, would be in effect until the end of January 2009.
The measures were applicable in 31 hospitals, clinics and administrative offices in the province.
They included the postponement of all routine, non-emergency surgical cases until the end of January 2009. Any patients that could, would be discharged.
All privately-funded patients would be redirected to private medical facilities. Public hospitals would only accept emergency referrals from other institutions and other provinces.
Staff would also be given mandatory leave.
All non essential meetings, including "non-critical appointments", were cancelled.
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