Tambo Memorial stoma bag shortage ‘traced back to 2023’, despite health department’s assurances

Gauteng Health claims a stoma bag shortage at Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg was resolved in July 2026, stating no patients went without supplies. However, correspondence from 2023 to August 2026 and information from a reliable source reveal the issue was more prolonged and complex. The department attributes the disruption to a delay in procurement, but patients alerted the hospital as early as March 2026.

A message from May 2023 indicates there were no stoma bags at the hospital, and a March 2026 source alleged corruption and incompetence in Gauteng Health. A private contractor was contracted in August 2026 to manage stoma bag distribution, but the allocation per patient would be insufficient, and a liaison coordinator would decide who received supplies.

This arrangement contradicts the department's claim of full resolution. The source also reported quality complaints and self-managed rationing, with patients forced to manage their supplies due to unstable issuance. This shortage appears to have a history dating back to 2022, with issues such as borrowing stock from neighboring facilities and a change in issuance procedures.