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No treatment for cancer patients as health department fails to pay

20 May 2025

In the Eastern Cape chemotherapy treatment of hundreds of cancer patients are being interrupted due to the Department of Health's failure to pay its drug suppliers, reported Daily Maverick (20 May 2025)
“The crisis has forced desperate doctors to ration limited medication, leading to widespread concern and a formal investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).”
Meanwhile, the provincial MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, has allocated R200m for specialist medicines, including cancer treatment. Of this, R43m is earmarked for paying pharmaceutical companies for outstanding cancer medicine debts from the last financial year.
The province's health facilities treat 1.6m patients monthly.

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