Military hospitals open doors

2008-08-21 14:18

Durban - The SA National Defence Force opened the doors of its hospitals to civilians on Thursday, while the Health Department has given military personnel the go-ahead to make use of government hospitals.

This followed the signing of a memorandum by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang with Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota on the opening of military hospitals to the public.

Although overcrowded government hospitals would have to deal with a higher intake of patients, Tshabalala Msimang said the move would take the delivery of health services in South Africa to "another level".

Defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said there were only three military hospitals in the country - one in Pretoria, another in Cape Town, and the third in Bloemfontein.

Years ago, he said, there was a military hospital in KwaZulu-Natal but it had been shut down.

Presently there was no military hospitals in the province and Mkhwanazi said there were no plans to establish one.

With regards to KZN, the move would only benefit the defence force staff.

As to whether this move would add to the already overcrowded government hospitals, Tshabalala Msimang said the department would do everything possible to increase health professionals and retain those at hand.

"We also want to improve the environment in which they work," she said.

Lekota, however, stressed that if accommodation problems arose, both departments might combine funds to make more space available.

Desmond Motha, spokesperson for provincial health MEC Peggy Nkonyeni said he doubted that the collaboration would cause more overcrowding at government hospitals.

"Pensioners and babies don't have to stand in queues to wait for medication, they are given first preference.

"Our other policy is that people using chronic medication don't have to come and queue in hospitals because they can receive their tablets at clinics near their homes," he said.

On signing the memorandum of understanding with Tshabalala Msimang, Lekota said the initiative would greatly help his military officers.

"For a long time, we have been agonising over medical care for the defence force." He said military hospitals were situated far from where some officers resided and it was a burden to travel far to the hospital.

"Now with this agreement, it would be much easier for them to go to government hospitals near their homes," he said.

In her keynote address, Tshabalala Msimang pointed out that the joint effort would also show healthcare preparedness for the Fifa 2010 World Cup.

"As thousands of guests descend onto our shores in 2010, they will do so with a full sense of confidence that their healthcare needs will indeed be properly taken care off.

"This collaboration allows for greater access not only to hospitals but ambulance services as well."

- SAPA