Author: Sipokazi Fokazi

Government clinics in South Africa have been facing shortages of contraceptive medicines since 2015, according to a recent report by Stop Stockouts and Ritshidze. This shortage is attributed to planning issues, limited budgets, and poor record-keeping systems. As a potential solution to this problem, the Department of Health has introduced vending machines that dispense items such as condoms, lubricants, sanitary pads, and even HIV test kits. While the machines have been successful in providing essential products, the idea of offering birth control pills through vending machines raises concerns. Pharmacology expert Andy Gray warns that hormonal contraception is a regulated substance…