Motsoaledi must answer for health equipment shortages
Minster of Health Aaron Motsoaledi must explain to Parliament what steps his department is taking to address the acute hospital equipment shortages around the country that are endangering patients'.
Reports, site visits and whistle-blower information indicate that the provincial health departments in Limpopo and Gauteng are experiencing widespread shortages of equipment after they have ignored requisition orders and failed to pay service providers for the maintenance of critical equipment. Both these departments are currently under the administration of the National Department of Health (DOH).
The following hospitals in Gauteng are reportedly experiencing problems with equipment:
- The Natalspruit hospital's only CAT scanner has been out of order since September last year. CAT scanners are used to diagnose diseases and injuries;
- at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital four scanners often break down; and
- scanners at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital is also routinely out of order.
Whistle-blower reports and site visits have revealed the following challenges in Limpopo: