Funding crisis hits Eastern Cape health
2012-06-29 07:54
Johannesburg - A funding crisis has hit revitalisation projects at state hospitals in the Eastern Cape, Dispatch Online reported on Friday.
Some projects had already come to a halt, and the health department had been rendered unable to plan for future developments.
The department was even struggling to fix broken air-conditioners in operating theatres.
"Revitalisation projects are at risk. There’s just no money," acting head of infrastructure Mlamli Tuswa said.
The department faced a R22bn infrastructure and maintenance backlog that was also crippling service delivery.
The figure had reportedly risen the past five years, and the decline continued with widespread neglect of already ageing and failing public healthcare centres.
In the last six months, the figure had increased by R3bn, leaving the department struggling to maintain its 1 200 facilities across the province.
Johannesburg - A funding crisis has hit revitalisation projects at state hospitals in the Eastern Cape, Dispatch Online reported on Friday.
Some projects had already come to a halt, and the health department had been rendered unable to plan for future developments.
The department was even struggling to fix broken air-conditioners in operating theatres.
"Revitalisation projects are at risk. There’s just no money," acting head of infrastructure Mlamli Tuswa said.
The department faced a R22bn infrastructure and maintenance backlog that was also crippling service delivery.
The figure had reportedly risen the past five years, and the decline continued with widespread neglect of already ageing and failing public healthcare centres.
In the last six months, the figure had increased by R3bn, leaving the department struggling to maintain its 1 200 facilities across the province.
Business Day reported that the Port Elizabeth hospital complex could offer only emergency surgery, and that only before 17:00 on some days of the week, because of staff shortages. Some doctors had not been paid since January.
The complex includes Dora Nginza hospital, Livingston hospital, and the Port Elizabeth provincial hospital.
"The department of health has placed a moratorium on the appointment of new junior and specialist doctors, while at the same time not renewing the contracts of doctors," the heads of units said in a joint statement.
- SAPA
