{
  "id": 18460702,
  "title": "DIABETES | Elderly Limpopo couple skip diabetes medication as clinic stockouts strain their pensions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/diabetes-elderly-limpopo-couple-skip-diabetes-medication-as-clinic",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-06T07:25:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Health-e News",
    "slug": "health-e-news",
    "url": "https://health-e.org.za/2026/11/06/diabetes-elderly-limpopo-couple-skip-diabetes-medication-as-clinic-stockouts-strain-their-pensions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An 85-year-old and his 67-year-old wife in Sebayeng village, Limpopo, struggle to find their diabetes medication when their local clinic faces stockouts. Both Simon Seshibe and his wife Rahab depend on chronic medication to manage their Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The couple has to travel to other clinics, sometimes paying up to R1,000 for medication and R400 for petrol, putting a strain on their limited pension income. Missed doses during these shortages leave Rahab with severe thirst and Simon with fatigue and frequent urination. The Seshibes are not alone in facing medicine shortages; other elderly patients, like 76-year-old Mapula Dikgale, also report difficulties accessing chronic medication, often having to travel long distances without transport money. The Limpopo Health Department acknowledges these supply challenges, attributing them to factors like supply-chain disruptions, procurement issues, and market-related constraints. The department is actively seeking alternative medicines to alleviate the impact on patients.",
  "summary": "Health-e News DIABETES | Elderly Limpopo couple skip diabetes medication as clinic stockouts strain their pensions When 85-year-old Simon Seshibe and his 67-year-old wife, Rahab cannot get their diabetes medication at their local clinic in Sebayeng village northeast of Polokwane, they face a costly search for supplies that sometimes leaves them without treatment for days. The couple rely on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Frequent supply-chain disruptions and procurement issues in Limpopo force vulnerable elderly patients to choose between essential chronic medication and their limited pension funds to cover travel costs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}