Democratic Alliance vindicated by Health court ruling
June 23rd, 2022
The irresponsible court application by the Department of Health to deprive victims who suffered medical malpractice of compensation has thankfully been thwarted by the Makhanda High Court. National Government must take note and immediately place this bankrupt and financially reckless Health Department under administration in terms of Section 100 of the Constitution before it collapses. The court ruling means more than R400 million will have to be paid out to …
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The Eastern Cape MEC of Health, Nomakhosazana Meth, has blamed Covid-19 to explain why her Department failed to implement a resolution of the Eastern Cape Legislature that would see that the suppliers of Livingstone Hospital be paid so that life-saving surgery can be performed. Three weeks ago I tabled a motion in the Legislature, where I raised the plight of patients at Livingstone Hospital who cannot be operated on because …
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Illegal sand mining continues unabated on Wild Coast
June 15th, 2022The dunes, estuaries and beaches of the beautiful Wild Coast continue to be decimated by illegal sand miners, despite the efforts of coastal law enforcement officers to bring this practise to an end. The Democratic Alliance is calling on MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mlungisi Mvoko, to ensure that all the ongoing illegal sand activities along this very sensitive and beautiful stretch of coast are halted as …
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Health compelled to act in Livingstone Hospital humanitarian crisis after DA motion passes
June 1st, 2022 The Department of Health has no choice but to immediately act against the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Livingstone Hospital after the Democratic Alliance’s motion on the matter was unanimously adopted in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature during a sitting this afternoon. The motion called for the Department to immediately settle all outstanding accruals to Johnson & Johnson and other service providers for vital equipment required in orthopaedic surgeries. Download …
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100 days to repair an ambulance in the Eastern Cape
May 26th, 2022
It takes 100 days to repair an ambulance that has been in an accident and 50 days to have an ambulance serviced in the Eastern Cape. This shocking truth was revealed in response to questions set by the Health Portfolio Committee during the recent round of Budget Appropriation meetings with officials from the Department. Currently, there are 412 ambulances in the province instead of the 650 required by national and …
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No consequences for delinquent Health Department staff
May 23rd, 2022 Almost four years ago, a young mother lost her unborn baby in the street due to gross negligence on the part of two Emergency Medical Services employees, but to this day, they have never faced a disciplinary hearing. This, despite the Department stating in response to a Parliamentary Question in July last year that the employees were formally charged and the disciplinary process would resume as lockdown restrictions had eased. …
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Almost a full two months after the contracts of thousands of healthcare workers were extended to assist in the continued vaccine rollout and manage the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, they remain unpaid by the Department of Health. This non-payment of critical staff has been blamed on glitches in the PERSAL system and poor connectivity. This is utter nonsense as all other employees were paid by the same PERSAL …
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HR Havoc in EC Health
May 8th, 2022 Despite plans, commitments and promises to the contrary, Eastern Cape Health Department leadership has failed to finalise an affordable staff organogram, failed to fill critical frontline posts, failed to renew essential contracts, failed to fill the thousands of still vacant Emergency Medical Services (EMS) posts and failed to address the mental health crisis in the province. The Democratic Alliance has been calling for the Department to be placed under administration, …
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Ambulance shortages will cost lives over Easter
April 13th, 2022
Severe ambulance shortages, short-staffed emergency medical services and no apparent plans in place for temporary air ambulance services all cast doubts on the Department of Health’s ability to deal with emergencies over the Easter Holidays. The increase in road accidents and other trauma cases over the Easter holiday period is well documented, but despite promising to take steps to boost paramedic and ambulance numbers in the Eastern Cape Province, the …
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Nurses’ strike puts patients directly in harm’s way
March 25th, 2022 The Democratic Alliance condemns in the strongest terms the illegal strike by nurses that is planned to take place across the province today, in protest against the termination of contracts for Community Healthcare Workers and Grant-funded Covid-19 Healthcare Workers at the end of March. There have already been reports of incidents at some provincial hospitals. For instance, at the Cradock Hospital, desperately ill patients, including children, have been sent home …
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