Open letter to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, from Mr Bongani Msomi (UDM Secretary General) regarding "Poor standard of service in state hospitals" on 14 September 2011
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has taken note of your mooting of legislation that will regulate the amount of seasoning in processed foods. What is of concern however, is the lack of attention to the basics of public health care.
Last year you launched a national programme to improve hospital services with a back-to-basics approach emphasising infection control and patient care. The public is yet to be informed on the progress made by the Health Department in this regard, but already the Minister seems to be embarking on new projects.
Sir, it is not a secret that the state of public hospitals is appalling and worrying and that there are a number of factors which have led to this, with maladministration being at the top of the list. The Minister is also aware of this, as he mentioned it in his speech of 7 July 2010 at the University of Cape Town. Lack of specialists in all government hospital adds to the problem since patients are expected to wait for a number of days before consultation.
The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is the largest hospital in Africa and should be the pride of the Country, yet there are constant negative reports regarding this hospital. Today it is reported that non-emergency operations have been put on hold due to faulty air conditioners in the very same hospital. At the moment the Gauteng Health MEC is being sued for R11.5 million because of alleged neglect of a baby. The Eastern Cape Health Department is facing problems where officials have recently been fired due to offences ranging from theft to rape and allegations about R36 million worth of financial irregularities are being probed. Between June 2011 and now, the Health Department in Gauteng alone has been sued for over R235 million.
The Health Department cannot expect South Africans to sit back and watch taxpayer’s money being misused in settling unending litigations. This money should be used to buy much needed emergency room and surgical equipment, medical supplies and to pay doctors and nurses a decent salary.
The UDM has long been advocating for Government to go “back to basics” by attending to the crises in government hospitals. We had hoped that, since the Minister took this step that some changes might have been implemented and progress made. Your office is however tackling sophisticated issues whilst overlooking what is affecting most South Africans – that is proper basic health care.
We call for an overhaul in the provincial health departments and for the Minister to be hands on where Government hospitals and staff negligence are of concern.
Kind regards,
Mr Bongani Msomi
Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement