SEVEN Eastern Cape health centres, including two hospitals, are to be demolished by the provincial department of health as they are below standard.
The issue will be in Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s report – at the ANC’s provincial lekgotla this weekend in East London – on the progress of the national health insurance pilot project.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, a well-placed source said Motsoaledi’s report detailed drastic measures to be taken by the national department on hospitals that are not up to standard.
Motsoaledi’s spokesman, Joe Maila, denied that the minister would address the issue. However, in September last year, Motsoaledi promised that eight clinics would be demolished and rebuilt from scratch, with five being completed in the 2013-14 financial year. He also promised contractors would be on site this month.
Zithulele Hospital in Mqanduli and Bambisana Hospital in Lusikisiki both have dilapidated, unsafe buildings. Some wards are said to have unsanitary bathrooms.
Provincial ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed that Motsoaledi would address the provincial lekgotla and hoped “something positive” would come out of it. “I cannot tell you what is contained in the minister’s report but government will have to make sure that everything is done for the success of the NHI in that district (OR Tambo),” he said.
Following a report by the Eastern Cape NGO Coalition on the state of health services in the OR Tambo district, Motsoaledi released a statement in September last year saying: “The appointment of professional service providers will be finalised (on) December 1 2013, (Bambisana Hospital) and in January 2014 (Zithulele Hospital), while the contractors will be on site for Bambisana and Zithulele hospitals in May 2014 and June 2014 respectively. The duration of the contract will be 36 months. For St Barnabas Hospital the whole psychiatric section will undergo major refurbishment.”
Zithulele Hospital head Dr Ben Gaunt confirmed plans for the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the hospital were underway.
However, provincial health MEC Sicelo Gqobana said he was not aware of Motsoaledi’s intention to demolish clinics and hospitals.
“I am not aware of the basis of the demolition of anything,” he said. “However, it has been a view of the provincial government that the service delivery platform has to be revisited.”
Another department of health source said Motsoaledi had taken funds from the department’s infrastructure budget to rebuild Bambisana and Zithulele hospitals and for other projects.
A sum of R144-million was taken from the department’s 2013-14 budget, while another R534-million will be taken from its 2014-15 budget. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Hammer to fall on unsafe health centres
The issue will be in Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s report – at the ANC’s provincial lekgotla this weekend in East London – on the progress of the national health insurance pilot project.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, a well-placed source said Motsoaledi’s report detailed drastic measures to be taken by the national department on hospitals that are not up to standard.
Motsoaledi’s spokesman, Joe Maila, denied that the minister would address the issue. However, in September last year, Motsoaledi promised that eight clinics would be demolished and rebuilt from scratch, with five being completed in the 2013-14 financial year. He also promised contractors would be on site this month.
Zithulele Hospital in Mqanduli and Bambisana Hospital in Lusikisiki both have dilapidated, unsafe buildings. Some wards are said to have unsanitary bathrooms.
Provincial ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed that Motsoaledi would address the provincial lekgotla and hoped “something positive” would come out of it. “I cannot tell you what is contained in the minister’s report but government will have to make sure that everything is done for the success of the NHI in that district (OR Tambo),” he said.
Following a report by the Eastern Cape NGO Coalition on the state of health services in the OR Tambo district, Motsoaledi released a statement in September last year saying: “The appointment of professional service providers will be finalised (on) December 1 2013, (Bambisana Hospital) and in January 2014 (Zithulele Hospital), while the contractors will be on site for Bambisana and Zithulele hospitals in May 2014 and June 2014 respectively. The duration of the contract will be 36 months. For St Barnabas Hospital the whole psychiatric section will undergo major refurbishment.”
Zithulele Hospital head Dr Ben Gaunt confirmed plans for the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the hospital were underway.
However, provincial health MEC Sicelo Gqobana said he was not aware of Motsoaledi’s intention to demolish clinics and hospitals.
“I am not aware of the basis of the demolition of anything,” he said. “However, it has been a view of the provincial government that the service delivery platform has to be revisited.”
Another department of health source said Motsoaledi had taken funds from the department’s infrastructure budget to rebuild Bambisana and Zithulele hospitals and for other projects.
A sum of R144-million was taken from the department’s 2013-14 budget, while another R534-million will be taken from its 2014-15 budget. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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