NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1448
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)
Ms E More (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether any amount has been owed by any province to the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) since 7 May 2010; if so, (a) what amount (i) is owed and (ii) has been outstanding for longer than 30 days with regard to each province, (b) what interest has been charged to each province and (c) what (i) are the reasons for the delay in payment and (ii) steps are being taken in this regard? NW1699E
REPLY:
(a) and (b) According to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), the following table reflects the details in this regard, as at 31 April 2010.
Table 1.
|
(a) |
(i) |
(ii) |
(b) |
|
Province |
Total |
Overdue |
Interest |
|
Western Cape |
30,686,929 |
14,204,595 |
467,394 |
|
Eastern Cape |
125,235,801 |
98,266,926 |
3,343,179 |
|
Free State |
27,888,329 |
17,595,925 |
1,836,766 |
|
Northern Cape |
28,964,107 |
22,961,663 |
459,243 |
|
Gauteng |
418,151,729 |
346,748,894 |
7,862,878 |
|
North West |
44,776,190 |
28,664,290 |
551,024 |
|
Limpopo |
41,407,525 |
24,985,780 |
863,651 |
|
Mpumalanga |
104,901,320 |
86,924,256 |
1,660,151 |
|
KZN |
122,687,389 |
45,351,584 |
107,891 |
|
TOTAL DOH |
944,699,320 |
685,703,913 |
17,152,177 |
(c) (i) The reasons for the delay of payment are rather complex. The provinces have had many accusations against NHLS. They have complained of being billed for tests never performed or never requested for; they have complained of wrong billing by the NHLS; they have complained of being over-charged in some instances by up to one-third of what they think they owe. I have brought the NHLS to a meeting with all the MECs and Heads of Departments, and tried to adjudicate in the disputes. I have even requested them to organise bilaterals with the CEO of the NHLS, during the periods when the CEO visits each province.
None of these warring factions seems to be relenting on accusations. The end result of this stand-off is usually the delay in payments.
(ii) As a minister I have looked into the aims and objectives of establishing the NHLS. The very first main aim and objective was to bring down the cost of laboratory services within the healthcare system. I have arranged for provinces to meet with the NHLS to achieve this objective.
Issued by Parliament, August 30 2010
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