Treasury can do better job - DA
15/08/2007 17:34  - (SA)  

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The Democratic Alliance has asked Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela to place the health department under the administration of the provincial treasury.

"This will allow the province to take proper control of its finances and institute a complete review of all current appointments," DA spokesperson Mike Waters said on Wednesday.

In a letter to Balindlela, Waters said it was becoming increasingly apparent that the Eastern Cape health department was unable to manage the health facilities under its control in a way that served the best interests of the people of the province.

"The department of health's investigation into Frere Hospital revealed numerous areas of gross neglect indicating a complete lack of awareness on the part of the provincial administration of the situation at the hospital and massive under-budgeting for its needs."

Problems in the department were further reinforced through a visit by a National Council of Provinces delegation earlier this week, which unearthed a range of other problems at hospitals in the province, including that there was a nurse to patient ratio of ninety to one at the Dora Nginza Hospital.

These reports came on top of a disclaimer of opinion given by the Auditor General in 2004/05.

"I believe that these problems are sufficiently serious to require that the department be placed under the administration of the provincial treasury in order to restore the department's management to a state of order," Waters said.

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