Since taking over the running of the municipality's clinics last year, the EC Department of Health (DoH) has had to pay the city in excess of R90 million, of which only R19 million has been transferred. The city has not budgeted for the running of these clinics, yet is still footing the bill. The Democratic Alliance has received information that if the DoH does not pay by this Friday (04 May 2012) all the clinics will effectively be shut down. In October last year the Eastern Cape Department … [Read more...] about EC DoH must pay R52 Million to Nelson Mandela Metro by Friday to ensure clinics stay open
john cupido
Health Portfolio Committee Must Investigate Hospital Overcrowding
Recent reports by the media have surfaced allegations of maltreatment and how the dilapidated infrastructure within our psychiatric hospitals may be affecting the wellbeing of patients. I have written to the Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee, Mxolisi Dimaza MPL, to request an immediate investigation by the committee on these matters. Some of the issues that need to be investigated are: Why the Eastern Cape Department of Health (EC DoH) allows severe overcrowding that … [Read more...] about Health Portfolio Committee Must Investigate Hospital Overcrowding
Dora Nginza Hospital Operating Theatres Without Electricity
It has been reported to the DA that the operating theatres at Dora Nginza Hospital are without power and that the backup generators are not working. It is not yet known how long this has been the case, but the DA has been informed that patients with procedures scheduled for this morning have been turned away and told that their next available theatre dates available are only in July. Questions that the department needs to answer and address with immediate effect is why has this happened? … [Read more...] about Dora Nginza Hospital Operating Theatres Without Electricity
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
International Rhino Day
Thursday 22 September is International Rhino Day and we should all spare a thought for the almost 300 rhino's that have been viciously slaughtered for their horns here in South Africa this year. Seeing photographs of a baby rhino nuzzling up to the decaying carcass of its poached mother is an image that will stay with me forever. It justifies calls for the immediate moratorium on all rhino hunting as corruption within the government and "the system" allows convicted poachers to get away … [Read more...] about International Rhino Day
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
Human Rights Commission Requested to Investigate Komani Psychiatric Hospital
The shocking Komani Psychiatric Hospital incident is a siren call for a total overhaul of how the health department is managed in the Eastern Cape. Top management is clearly out of touch and this issue goes deeper than simply suspending officials at the Komani Hospital. Why does it take the media and the portfolio committee on health to get action? Why are department officials trying to pull the wool over the eyes of their MEC? When the MEC of Health, Sicelo Gqobana, admitted that the way the … [Read more...] about Human Rights Commission Requested to Investigate Komani Psychiatric Hospital
Driving Schools Accuse EC Traffic Departments of Widespread Corruption
The Democratic Alliance is calling for an investigation into the issuing of driver's licences in the province. When we allow drivers on the road who cannot drive, they are not only placing their lives in danger but also that of others. Several driving schools have approached the DA in the legislature to deal with apparent corruption within many municipal traffic departments and the Department of Transport (DoT) in general. It must be said that they played open cards in saying that they … [Read more...] about Driving Schools Accuse EC Traffic Departments of Widespread Corruption
