MADAM PREMIER, THERE IS A HOSPITAL CRISIS

According to reports, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has said there is "no crisis" at the health facilities that she visited yesterday.

I find this absolutely astonishing as she saw for herself the long queues and complaints that medicines are not in stock.

Despite promises that hospital suppliers would be paid, there are two broken radiation machines at the Steve Biko Hospital, and one broken radiation machine at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital because a company has not been paid.

This is putting the lives of cancer patient at risk.

I get lots of reports of medicine shortages at clinics and hospitals across the province.

Surgery is often delayed, and patients can wait for months and years for operations.

Fixing our health services starts with a frank acknowledgement of the problems, not the denial so often shown by the Gauteng Premier and Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, March 15 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter