The Department of Health issued a statement to dispel concerns among South Africans regarding the shortage of medicines and changes in the appearance of medications supplied to public healthcare facilities. The Department emphasized that any changes in the color, shape, or packaging of medicines do not affect their quality, safety, or efficacy.
A Department representative, Foster Mohale, stated that reports suggesting that medicines look different or are supplied in alternative packaging should not be interpreted as evidence of medicine scarcity or changes in treatment. Mohale clarified that a change in color, shape, packaging, or manufacturer does not mean that the drug itself has changed.
Different appearance, same medicine
The Department explained that public healthcare facilities receive medications from several approved suppliers who comply with strict regulatory and quality standards. As a result, patients may receive drugs from different manufacturers over time, which causes variations in appearance.
Mohale explained that despite external differences, these medicines contain identical active ingredients, have the same strength and quality, and provide the same therapeutic benefits. They are approved as safe, effective, and interchangeable. Furthermore, healthcare workers—doctors, pharmacists, and nurses—are authorized to dispense equivalent medications to ensure continuity of patient care. Patients who have doubts about changes in medication intake were advised to consult medical professionals for clarification.
Continuity of care
The Department also sought to alleviate growing anxiety about medicine shortages in certain parts of the country, stressing that reports of stock shortages do not necessarily mean that patients will be unable to receive treatment. According to the department, shortages are often related to a specific brand, supplier, or package size, rather than the medicine itself.
Mohale noted that in some cases, a product of a specific brand, package size, or supplier may be temporarily unavailable, while an equivalent medicine remains accessible. The Department added that medical staff regularly provide clinically appropriate alternatives to ensure continuity of care.
Stock monitoring
The Department acknowledged that medicine supply chains remain vulnerable to international disruptions, including production delays, raw material shortages, rising global demand, and transportation issues. Mohale reported that, like many other countries, South Africa's medicine supply chain is sometimes affected by factors outside the healthcare system's control.
Despite these challenges, authorities stated that efforts are being made to minimize interruptions and maintain access to essential medicines. To strengthen oversight of medicine availability, the department continuously monitors stocks through the National Surveillance Centre and the Stock Visibility System (SVS), which is a digital monitoring tool on a web platform. These systems provide early warnings of potential supply problems and allow health authorities to work with provinces, facilities, suppliers, and regulators to mitigate risks before they affect patients. The Department reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that South Africans continue to receive 'safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines' through the public healthcare system.