Chairperson, the department has been informed that there were expired medicines that were recently destroyed in the Free State province. According to the report from the province, there has been a backlog in the destruction of expired medicines for the past three years due to the contractor not having a qualified pharmacist for the certification of expired medicines. As a result, the Free State Department of Health had to intervene and use its own means to destroy the medicines concerned.
According to the province, the medicines are valued at about R10 million over a four-year period. It is the Minister's view that in the face of the general shortage of medicines and the disease burden faced by South Africans, we cannot afford to have medicines staying unused until they expire. This is one of the reasons why we have decided to prioritise the overhauling of the management and reinforcement of accountability at all levels of the department and its institutions.
If the hon member is suggesting that there was any negligence on the matter, the hon member is hereby informed that the director-general has since been instructed to fully investigate the matter and to report on any system failure or personal responsibility. Remedial action will be taken promptly should the investigation prove any negligence. Thank you very much. [Applause.]