KwaZulu-Natal has a stock of more than 400 vials of snakebite antivenom, according to a recent report.
The KZN Department of Health revealed this during a follow-up meeting on medicine shortages with the portfolio committee on health in the province.
KZN Health pharmaceutical services director Vusi Dlamini said the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) took proactive measures to enhance the future resilience of the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) operations by strategically renovating its production facility.
Dlamini explained that the NHLS SAVP is currently undergoing extensive renovations which have disrupted the production of snakebite antivenom. These disruptions have exaggerated the waiting time for orders to be honoured.
“The National Department of Health has sourced Section 21 bulk authority on behalf of provinces. An order for 300 vials from the Section 21 authority sourced by the National Department of Health, has been placed by the depot,” Dlamini said.
He said four other facilities have placed orders through own Section 21 authority:
- Manguzi Hospital (60 vials)
- Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (40 vials)
- Port Shepstone Hospital (20 vials)
- General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital (80 vials)
Dlamini said the stock has been kept at facilities for issuing to other facilities in case of emergency:
- Madadeni Hospital
- Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital
- Christ The King Hospital, Pholela Community Healthcare Centre (CHC), Rietvlei Hospital, St Apollinaris Hospital and St Margaret CHC
- General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital
- Catherine Booth Hospital, Ngwelezane Hospital and Nkandla Hospital
- Port Shepstone Hospital
- Grey’s Hospital
- Bethesda Hospital, Hlabisa Hospital, Manguzi Hospital, Mosvold Hospital, Mseleni Hospital and Othobothini CHC
- Estcourt Hospital and Ladysmith Regional Hospital
- Itshelejuba Hospital and Vryheid Hospital
Overview of snake antivenom vials available in KZN in various districts:
- Amajuba: Madadeni Hospital (4)
- eThekwini: Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (30)
- Harry Gwala: Christ The King Hospital (1), Pholela CHC (1), Rietvlei Hospital (1), St Apollinaris Hospital (4) and St Margaret CHC (1)
- Ilembe: General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital (62)
- King Cetshwayo: Catherine Booth Hospital (2), Ngwelezane Hospital (200) and Nkandla Hospital (9)
- Ugu: Port Shepstone Hospital (14)
- uMgungundlovu: Grey’s Hospital (10)
- uMkhanyakude: Bethesda Hospital (10), Hlabisa Hospital (5), Manguzi Hospital (28), Mosvold Hospital (10), Mseleni Hospital (10) and Othobothini CHC (4)
- uMzinyathi: Church of Scotland Hospital (3), Dundee Hospital (2) and Greytown Hospital (2)
- uThukela: Estcourt Hospital (4) and Ladysmith Regional Hospital (15)
- Zululand: Itshelejuba Hospital (11) and Vryheid Hospital (9)
“The supply remains constrained; however, each district has stock that can be sent to a facility in an emergency,” Dlamini concluded.
Reacting to the presentation, health portfolio committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka noted that some facilities have low antivenom stock like Madadeni Hospital in the Amajuba District, which had four vials.
“It may not be a common occurrence of snakebites and I do understand that you said that anti-venom can be moved between facilities very quickly and you have already developed stock through Section 21,” Keeka said.
