Eight clinics and two hospitals in the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape will be demolished and rebuilt from scratch, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Thursday. Motsoaledi unveiled massive plans to turn around the health care system in the Eastern Cape, particularly the OR Tambo District, which is among the 11 districts piloting the National Health Insurance (NHI). Detailing the plans, Motsoaledi noted that both the national Health Department and National Treasury are … [Read more...] about East Cape health department facilities in focus
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EC Health graft details must be made public
The Democratic Alliance today submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application for forensic audit details of corruption and nepotism in the Eastern Cape Health Department. The report by the Special Investigation Unit, which has revealed major graft and nepotism worth billions, must be made public to ensure that the results are not simply swept under the carpet. The names of companies, officials and units within the Health Department involved in corruption were … [Read more...] about EC Health graft details must be made public
SASOP on the breakdown of health services in the Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) in the Eastern Cape Province voices its grave concern regarding the plight of patients and staff at the Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex (PEHC) as a result of staff shortages. Since the last SASOP position statement on the same issue was released on the 29th of June 2012, the situation has worsened to crisis point, leading to the simultaneous resignation of 3 Heads of Departments in the Complex in the last few days. This crisis remains unresolved … [Read more...] about SASOP on the breakdown of health services in the Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex
Shocking 300% Year on Year increase in Infant Mortality rates
All 30 specialists (read quick - there may be fewer by the time you complete reading this!) in the Port Elizabeth Health Complex Hospitals have released a media statement with regard to the collapse of tertiary health services with the metro. Hard nosed business people are fond of asking; "What is the bottom line?" The bottom line here is definitely in the numbers when you see in the statement just how much the infant mortality rates have shot up between 2011 and 2012. That a department and … [Read more...] about Shocking 300% Year on Year increase in Infant Mortality rates
EC DoH’s false EMS payment promises will cost lives again
The Eastern Cape Department of Health (EC DoH) is again playing with the lives of thousands of patients as they yet again fail to stick to recent payment promises made to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff. Clear payment time lines must be made and strictly adhered to. In a notice sent to all EMS Metro Heads and signed on 3 December by Mr. Ntsoane as the Senior Manager of IHRM, it states that by no later than 5 December 2012, the first of three categories of outstanding payments will be … [Read more...] about EC DoH’s false EMS payment promises will cost lives again
Clear picture needed of provincial finances
A chaotic picture of the Eastern Cape's finances is being painted in the media with contradictory reports surrounding the true state of the province's finances. Treasury is reported as saying the Department of Health could be R2,5 billion in deficit while the department claims it has different figures. If the Health and Education departments continue to overspend, it will create further instability in the province's finances. This will derail service delivery, not only in these two … [Read more...] about Clear picture needed of provincial finances
23 Years of Sick Leave
The Provincial Department of Local Government wasted 23 years in staff sick days during the 2010/11 financial year. In response to a parliamentary question I asked in this regard we were informed that 5 484 lost days for sick leave at a cost of R4,5 million was incurred by the department. This must beg the question if employees are not taking unnecessary sick leave as an employment perk! Of further concern is that 576 employees or 37% of the staff complement of the department took sick … [Read more...] about 23 Years of Sick Leave
Complete Overhaul of EC Healthcare Needed
The Democratic Alliance notes, sadly with no suprise, the Provincial Treasury's demands that the Department of Health (DoH) cuts its budgetary expenditure by over R200 million. Year on year, the DA has warned departmental officials that unless they immediately implement financial austerity measures, the department would find itself in the position it is today. The cost cutting measures that have now been put in place are ones that should have been reviewed and considered years ago and now … [Read more...] about Complete Overhaul of EC Healthcare Needed
Life saving medication left to expire by the ton
In the last six months the Eastern Cape Department of Health has destroyed almost 50 tons of medication, most of which is expired goods. Allowing vast amounts of medication to expire and go to ruin is the same as withholding treatment and is paramount to a human rights violation. Stock control policies need to be re-looked to ensure that this does not happen again. Along with the medication that was damaged in the recent Mthatha medical depot fire, more than 13 tons of recently expired … [Read more...] about Life saving medication left to expire by the ton
East Cape Health Department Must Eradicate Injustice
The Democratic Alliance is dismayed with the commentary given by the Department of Health spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, to the release of the Humans Rights Watch report on maternal health care and mortality rates in South Africa which highlights the Eastern Cape as the worst of the worst. The maternal and infant mortality rates seen in the Eastern Cape would have shocked officials even several decades ago and the assumption can be made that the department of health is allowing health care in … [Read more...] about East Cape Health Department Must Eradicate Injustice
