HOSPITAL CRISIS WORSENED BY CADRE DEPLOYMENT AND RAMPANT CORRUPTION

Today's Sunday Times correctly exposes the dire crisis faced by our hospitals as they face a crippling doctors strike over their abysmal pay and working conditions.

Treasury must find the money to pay skilled medical staff what they are worth, else we will lose them and our hospitals will deteriorate further.

But much can be done without spending any money because a large part of this crisis is caused by corruption and by the ANC's policy of cadre deployment where unqualified people are placed in senior jobs.

Gauteng is a prime example where poor management has led to major hospitals running out of food and basic medicines because orders are not processed or suppliers are not paid.

For the past six months the flagship Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital has been run by an acting CEO, Dr Sandile Mfenyana, who pops in only twice a week.

Some doctors purchase their own supplies of the Panado painkiller as it is often unavailable at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital.

There is rampant corruption in the Gauteng Health Department, with many fishy contracts such as the R250 million to be paid to 3P Consultants whose Managing Director, Mr Richard Payne, is an acknowledged friend of former Health MEC Brian Hlongwa.

Rooting out corruption and appointing people on merit will improve our health services greatly.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng health spokesman, May 24 2009

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