Pretoria – Gauteng’s public healthcare institutions have been warned to shape up or face the wrath of authorities.
This came after Gauteng Premier David Makhura paid a surprise visit to Sebokeng regional hospital in the Vaal on Monday.
Upon inspecting the facility, Premier Makhura said the hospital was in need of an overhaul.
“The hospital has very old infrastructure, staffing backlogs and the filing system needs to be upgraded. The hospital services about 500 000 residents from Emfuleni, Sedibeng, Orange Farm, Heidelberg with patients coming as far as Sasolburg in the Free State.
“Though the hospital has very serious challenges it is very encouraging to see that the staff here are committed to giving the community the best service possible. Shortening patient queues is very important and this hospital is doing very well in this regard. It is very encouraging,” Premier Makhura said.
During the unannounced visit, the Premier was accompanied by the Gauteng MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu.
MEC Mahlangu said her department was currently working with the Departments of Infrastructure Development and Finance to investigate an alternative method of funding in order to build additional infrastructure.
“The modernisation of the filing system should be completed by the end of this financial year,” MEC Mahlangu said.
Hospital CEO Zolela Ncwabe said the number of patients that they cater for is that equalling the entire province of the Northern Cape.
“With the resources we have, we try to go the extra mile but we’ve requested that the Health Department explore the use of the electronic filing system which would ease filing at the hospital and assist with staffing,” she said.
