Gauteng Health has rejected opposition and media claims that Tambo Memorial Hospital experienced a prolonged shortage of stoma bags in 2023, saying instead that a supply disruption occurred only in July 2026 and has been resolved.
Department: records do not show 2023 disruption
In a written response issued last week, Gauteng health spokesperson Steve Mabona said available hospital records do not confirm a disruption in the supply of stoma bags during 2023. The department’s statement addresses correspondence and a reported account that suggested shortages last year.
“Available hospital records do not confirm a disruption in the supply of stoma bags in 2023,”
Mabona said the department’s records also do not show patients being asked to buy their own stoma supplies. The department further said measures have been introduced since the July procurement delay to improve stock monitoring and prevent future recurrence.
DA and source raised concerns about private supplier and nurse reports
The Department’s rebuttal follows public claims from the DA and correspondence that included an account attributed to a hospital nurse. The nurse was reported to have told a source in May 2023 that there was “no stock of stoma bags at Tambo Memorial Hospital”.
“no stock of stoma bags at Tambo Memorial Hospital”
The DA’s Gauteng health spokesperson, Madeleine Hicklin, had also said a private supplier was engaged on 5 August 2026 to ration ten bags per patient through a liaison coordinator. The department rejected that account, saying the hospital had not contracted a private supplier to procure or distribute stoma bags and that procurement follows applicable processes.
Mabona described the reported allocation of ten bags per patient as “a temporary measure to distribute available stock fairly while procurement processes were being finalised.” He emphasised that stoma products are procured by the hospital within established procurement rules.
What the department says it has done
The department’s public statement set out two central points: that the 2023 shortage claims are not supported by hospital records, and that the July 2026 procurement delay has been addressed. No further operational detail or timeline for the corrective measures was provided in the department’s statement beyond saying that stock monitoring has been strengthened.
- Department position: No record of 2023 shortage; July 2026 delay resolved.
- DA position: Claims of earlier shortages and use of a private supplier to ration supplies.
- Reported nursing account: A nurse allegedly advised in May 2023 there was no stock.
Timeline from available correspondence and statements
| When | What was reported |
|---|---|
| May 2023 | Correspondence quoted a nurse saying there was “no stock of stoma bags”. |
| 5 August 2026 | DA said a private supplier was engaged to ration ten bags per patient via a liaison coordinator. |
| July 2026 | Gauteng Health acknowledged a procurement delay it says has since been resolved. |
Practical impact and unanswered questions
Stoma supplies are essential for people living with stomas, and any disruption to procurement or distribution directly affects daily care and dignity. While the department insists records do not support a long-term shortage, the nurse’s alleged May 2023 account and the DA’s claims raise questions about how stock levels were monitored, how temporary allocations were communicated to patients, and whether any patients paid out of pocket.
The department’s statement explicitly said it had no record of patients being required to purchase their own stoma supplies. It also denied that hospital staff had no role in stoma outpatient care, countering an assertion in the correspondence that “no Tambo hospital staff interact with stoma outpatients directly.” The statement indicated the stoma clinic is staffed and operating.
At present, the public record consists of the DA’s claims, the quoted correspondence including the nurse’s remark, and the department’s denial and reassurance that corrective measures are in place after a July procurement delay. The competing accounts mean that independent verification — for example through hospital stock ledgers, procurement records or statements from affected patients — would be necessary to settle the disagreement.
Gauteng residents who rely on stoma care should confirm supply arrangements with their clinic or hospital. Health departments typically advise patients to report concerns about chronic supply issues to local clinic managers or the provincial patient relations office so these can be recorded and investigated.
For now, Gauteng Health maintains that the problem was short-lived and has been resolved, while the DA and parts of the correspondence assert a longer-standing issue. The disagreement underscores the need for clear procurement transparency and timely communication to patients dependent on essential medical consumables.
Reporting from Johannesburg.
