LAB STRIKE WILL HIT PATIENTS HARD
The strike that starts today by staff of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) will unfortunately hit patients hard as critical tests will be delayed.
The Gauteng Health Department claims to have contingency plans for the strike but won't disclose which urgent lifesaving tests will be prioritized.
I am concerned that lives could be at risk if there are delays in tests for HIV/Aids, Malaria, Cancer, and Multi-Drug Resistant TB.
Patients will also be inconvenienced by waiting for the results of many other blood tests.
Private laboratories should be used as much as possible but will probably not be able to cope with all the tests for state patients.