The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal demands that the MEC of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo urgently appoint a task team of senior health officials to assess the state of provincial hospitals and clinics.
“We have raised many concerns about the state of health care especially in hospitals such as Mbongolwane, Addington and Hlabisa. These are just some examples of hospitals where health care services are far below the desired standards. After the IFP exposed the recent problems at Hlabisa Hospital, the MEC acted and we are thankful for that intervention, but we cannot be content with only knee-jerk reactions. We need proper planning that adequately addresses the upkeep and maintenance of our public hospital infrastructure,” said IFP Spokesperson on Health, Mrs Nkwanyana,MPL.
“Mbongolwane hospital management should be suspended pending the investigation into expired medication. We would also like to see a situation where signed performance contracts for hospital CEOs are reviewed regularly. Those who are incapable or who do not perform their duties satisfactorily should be fired. We cannot continue to tolerate incompetence and mismanagement, which in many instances leads to the unnecessary death of patients,” continued Mrs Nkwanyana.
“For several years the IFP has been calling on the ANC government to confront key issues facing our health care sector – particularly the enforcement of minimum standards at all public hospitals. For far too long money has been poured into our public hospitals without the desired health outcomes,” concluded Mrs Nkwanyana.
The IFP further calls on the Portfolio Committee on Health in the KZN Legislature to increase its visibility by conducting un-announced site visits to hospitals in and around the province in order to experience first-hand what our people are confronted with at our hospitals.
