LONG WAITING TIMES FOR CANCER TREATMENT AT JOBURG HOSPITAL CUTS SURVIVAL CHANCES

Long waiting times for cancer treatment at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) are decreasing the survival chances of patients.

According to the hospital’s CEO Gladys Bogoshi, there are about 300 prostate cancer patients  who will wait two years for treatment.

The waiting period for 50 breast cancer patients is between four and six months, and 150 patients for gynecological and other cancers will wait three to four months.

I am pleased that these figures have finally been revealed in response to a visit last week to the hospital by the SA Human Rights Commission.

Earlier this year, Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa covered up these disturbing figures in response to my questions, saying merely that the waiting time for treatment “varies from month to month.”

She gave the same vague reply to my questions on cancer treatment at the Steve Biko Hospital.

The CMJH cancer unit is also struggling with only three radiation oncologists when five are needed.

I hope that the SA Human Rights Commission can exert pressure to ensure that cancer treatment in Gauteng is properly resourced to provide quality treatment.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 10 June 2018