Share

How to fix Mpumalanga's broken health system

accreditation

Mpumalanga Health MEC Gillion Mashego should step down with immediate effect.

That is the call from the DA in the province who said MEC Mashego has failed to show decisive leadership in his department and under his watch, the condition of the health department has reached crisis point as a result of financial mismanagement.

Read: Mpumalanga health desperately needs a shot in the arm

"As long as MEC Mashego is at the helm of the department of health, the department will continue its stay in the intensive care unit and the people of Mpumalanga will continue to suffer," said DA MPL and spokesperson on health and social development, Jane Sithole in a statement on Thursday.

She pointed out that a Social Cluster Portfolio Committee Meeting on Wednesday revealed that in the 2014/15 financial year, the department failed to meet even half of its set targets. "It only managed to achieve 41.7% yet it spend over R8.8 billion (98.3%) of its R9 billion budget."

Sithole said the department also continues to struggle in meeting the National Core Standards in the health facilities which remain at 0% achieved and Emergency Medical Services continues to achieve 0% of its set targets.

The department failed to upgrade 18 hospitals as planned. The DA blamed this on the lack of leadership and a delay in appointing key personnel.

Sithole added that it is not uncommon to hear reports of people who have had to wait hours and sometimes even days for an ambulance to arrive after it has been called.

"What is alarming however is that the Department of Health has spent its entire budget for Emergency Medical Services yet it has failed to achieve even one of its set targets."
 
The DA said that department failed to spend the full R608 million that was meant for Health Facility Management and the full R543 million that was meant for payment of capital assets, leading to an underspend of almost R250 million.

"This gives an indication as to why so many healthcare facilities are either under equipped or are forced to operate in crumbling and dilapidated facilities," said Sithole.

She said that Mashego should admit his failure by stepping down. "[H]is continued failure to lead is wedging a gap between the people of Mpumalanga and their ability to access quality health care".

The Department of Health in Mpumalanga received a qualified opinion from the Auditor General (AG) for the 2014/15 financial year, despite a turnaround strategy implemented after it was placed under curatorship.

Sithole said the DA will continue its bid to have the department placed under curatorship in order to improve access to quality healthcare in the province.

Also read:

Surgeon walks out on patient, not once but twice

Blood running into streets from mortuary

Mom loses baby after three days of hell

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE