Thousands of women in Gauteng lost out on a popular contraceptive device when the province was hit with a shortage of 29000 contraceptive implants for the first three months of this year.
This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
According to the MEC, only 2000 Subdermal Implanon devices were received from orders totalling 31000 in January, February and March 2023.
The Subdermal Implanon is a small plastic rod inserted under the skin that releases a synthetic hormone that prevents pregnancy over a 3-year period.
The Department says the shortage was because the supplier “failed to meet the demand for Subdermal implanon”, and patients received information and were counselled on alternative contraceptive methods.
No other shortages of contraceptive tablets and injections were experienced since January last year, and there are no current shortages of any type of contraceptive except for condoms.
It is unfortunate that a supplier failure prevented thousands of women from using their preferred long-range contraceptive method.
This follows the drastic shortage of male and female condoms because of long-running supply problems with a national contract.
The Gauteng Health Department should be more adept at detecting shortages of key items and getting alternative suppliers to fill orders speedily.
By Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC