(BOR) – Patients at Bor Hospital in Jonglei State are facing serious challenges due to a critical shortage of essential medical supplies, including life saving anti-malarial and antibiotic drugs.
Dr. Bol Chaw, the Medical Director of Bor Hospital, confirmed that the last major delivery of medical supplies arrived in April 2025, provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Since then, the hospital has not received any significant restocking.
“This is a dire situation,” said Dr. Chaw. “Currently, the hospital is experiencing a severe lack of drugs, especially now that it’s malaria season. Many people come here for admission, but there are no drugs.”
The hospital, one of the busiest referral facilities in the region, has struggled to cope with the increasing number of patients from Bor and neighbouring counties. According to the director, the growing population and pressure from referrals have caused available medicines to run out faster than expected.
The shortage is forcing patients to seek treatment in private clinics, where prices are often unaffordable for the majority of families. The current black-market cost of essential malaria medication such as Artemether-Lumefantrine is between 9,200 SSP and 13,800 SSP ($2–$3) per dose, which many patients cannot afford.
| Medicine Type | Typical Market Price (SSP) | Equivalent in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-malarial (1 dose) | 9,200 – 13,800 | $2 – $3 |
| Antibiotics (5-day) | 27,600 – 46,000 | $6 – $10 |
| Paracetamol (1 strip) | 2,300 – 4,600 | $0.50 – $1 |
“We normally send patients to buy the drugs they need from the market. I know it is hard on some people, but there is nothing we can do,” Dr. Chaw added, expressing frustration over the worsening supply situation.
For many residents of Bor, especially the most vulnerable, this has become a life-threatening issue. Rebecca Achok, a patient recently admitted to the hospital, described her experience as painful and stressful.
“When I was admitted to the hospital, I suffered a lot because I did not have enough money to buy drugs from the market,” said Achok. “A patient can be rushed to the hospital with no money, and this can delay their medical treatment. Not everyone can afford private clinics.”
Achok and other patients are now calling on the National Ministry of Health and humanitarian partners to intervene and urgently supply drugs to the hospital.
The situation has become more serious due to the peak malaria season. Malaria remains the leading cause of illness and death in South Sudan, particularly during the rainy season. With public hospitals like Bor unable to provide basic medicines, the burden shifts entirely to patients and their families, worsening inequality in access to healthcare.
In the absence of timely intervention, health professionals fear a rise in preventable deaths and further pressure on private health providers. There are also concerns that such shortages could trigger further public frustration, especially in a region that has endured previous crises including flooding, displacement and intercommunal violence.
Health officials have not announced any timeline for the next drug consignment, and no public statement has yet been issued by the Jonglei State Ministry of Health or the National Ministry of Health regarding the crisis.