Pretoria - People receiving antiretroviral treatment (ARVs) and on chronic medication will for the duration of the public service strike be able to collect their medication at any public health facility.
Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said that except for Natalspruit and Germiston Hospitals, patients can go to any health facility to collect their treatment to minimise defaulting and complications related to not taking chronic medication.
"All hospitals are dispensing medication to chronic patients irrespective of which clinic or hospital they normally receive their medication. If patients don't have their card or file, they should bring the containers of their medication to assist the pharmacist to provide them with correct medication until the situation is back to normal," Mahlangu said during a media briefing on Friday.
The MEC said patients on chronic medication in Gauteng had not been severely affected by the strike and further disputed some media reports which claimed hospitals had run out of food and patients had to be discharged due to the non-availability of food.
"We have food for patients and they are being fed as normal, people only donate food for volunteers and not patients," she said, adding that only some patients were served bread without butter because of their illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
Mahlangu thanked the health private sector and volunteers which had offered their assistance at clinics and hospitals. While they are not being paid and their transport is not free, the department is providing food for them.
"More than 300 patients have been moved to [private healthcare] institutions free of charge, the department will only pay for treatment. More than 2000 people have come on board to volunteer and have been deployed to various hospitals," Mahlangu said.
