Accrual Anxiety: R1 billion in unpaid pharma accounts triggers medicine crisis in Eastern Cape

2026-02-25 - 19:13

The Eastern Cape Department of Health is grappling with massive unpaid pharmaceutical bills of about R1-billion. While officials deny that their ability to provide medication to patients has collapsed, the suspension of 21 accounts with some of the country's biggest pharmaceutical companies has led to vital medicine shortages, raising serious concerns about patient safety.