The recent reports on service delivery issues at Helen Joseph Hospital have once again cast a spotlight on the state of Gauteng province's health challenges.
Image: Picture:Dumisani Dube
The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has demanded accountability on the issues confronting the health sector in the province.
This comes after the findings of the reports from the Health Ombud and the Office of Health Standards Compliance, which stressed that the Helen Joseph Hospital needs serious intervention as a matter of urgency.
The Health Ombud launched a probe into the Helen Joseph Hospital after radio personality Tom London's video where he was complaining about poor treatment from the medical staff at the hospital went viral in August last year.
The party's Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom said, "the reports make good recommendations for Helen Joseph Hospital and other hospitals, but they are unlikely to be implemented in full."
The party stresses that the public hospitals in the province have common problems ranging from staff shortages and crumbling infrastructure which emanate from poor management.
IOL took to the streets of Johannesburg to get residents' thoughts on the services at hospitals.
Expressing her thoughts, Katlego Meela, 26, Rosebank College Braamfontein ICT Officer, said: "Was there ever a time where the health sector was functional? Our parents have been complaining about the health sector from the time we were born, they are still complaining now, we'll also have kids, and the sector would still be in shambles.
"It doesn't seem like those who are supposed to be getting the job done care, our politicians are always implicated in unbecoming things," Meela said.
Rethabile Bekane, 24, a Rosebank College Braamfontein ICT Officer, said: "The state of our health care department is very inadequate and appalling, they just make it seem like they are working but we are not seeing the results as residents and people who need and use these hospitals."
Speaking to Lerato Mametse, 36, a street cleaner in Braamfontein, she said: "These levels of incompetence are what made other people lose confidence in government hospitals and characterise them as mortuaries.
"I know someone who got stabbed and was rushed to hospital, only for them to not get attended when they got there and unfortunately, they succumbed to their injuries. That was an emergency, and the person would still be alive if he received immediate attention when he arrived at the hospital.
"Our family members who work at government hospitals tell us disheartening things which are unfortunately out of their hands and don't really talk to management about them, because they fear they might get targeted," Mametsa said.
Bloom said they will continue pushing Premier Panyaza Lesufi to fire Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Head of Department Lesiba Malotana, and then get competent people to take over and provide quality health care.
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