Premier intervenes in non-payment of essential medical suppliers
9 Feb 2012
Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane today took steps to ensure the swift payment of suppliers of essential medicines to Gauteng hospitals.
As widely reported in the media this week, some Gauteng health institutions had run out of essential medication, putting the lives patients at risk.
"I have instructed the Gauteng Director-General to set up a team to identify projected savings and pay suppliers with immediate effect. I can say with confidence that we will be paying up to R1 billon to health suppliers as of tomorrow until the end of the financial year March," Mokonyane said.
That would bring the total payments to suppliers for the year to R1.6 billion.