The Gauteng provincial government will ask Parliament to declare all healthcare facilities national key points to prevent disruptions such as those caused by civil servants during their recent strike.

This sweeping proposal would lead to all hospitals, clinics and other major healthcare facilities becoming a security priority for the state. They would fall into the same category as other national key points.

MEC for health and social development Qedani Mahlangu said yesterday that moves to classify healthcare facilities under the National Key Points Act were intended to save lives.

"It is a proposal because we believe hospitals are very sensitive and that's where the majority of poor citizens lost their access to healthcare services [during the public servants' strike].

"So, if they are drawn into that pool, like where we classify Parliament, the Gauteng legislature, places, that's what we are proposing. But it depends what the national government thinks about that."

But Jack Bloom, the DA health spokesman in Gauteng, said the proposal was "overkill".

He accused Mahlangu of trying to block scrutiny of hospitals by "using apartheid laws".

"This is intended to curb the media in investigating hospitals.

"I feel strongly about this because I was personally beaten at a hospital for taking a picture of a long queue."

Bloom said the government should enforce existing laws that deal with intimidation and not devise new laws.

But Mahlangu said a new law was needed to protect patients and the general public when they wanted to access health services during a strike.

"I believe that if the UN and other international health organisations can classify health services as essential, why should we not look into that so that, in future, we protect these kinds of services.

"There are national security points that mean security is alert at any given time. Nothing like a strike or any other should affect any national security points.

"We have been discussing this in the executive council.

"This is something we would like to be considered because the reason why hospitals like Chris Hani-Baragwanath and Natalspruit were affected is because some workers were prevented from entering the hospitals.

"Remember, we are dealing with a loss of lives in hospitals. That is the principle that we are dealing with."

Mahlangu's proposal, however, has raised concerns that it would limit media organisations from reporting on, or taking photographs of, healthcare facilities.

Mondli Makhanya, chairman of the SA National Editor's Forum, said the proposal was "crazy" and would restrict not only the media but ordinary citizens from moving freely and holding meetings on hospital premises.

"It's a ridiculous proposal and we hope nobody in the ANC or the government, takes it seriously.

"South Africa does not need any laws that would infringe on the rights and freedom of citizens," Makhanya said.

"It will have huge implications for the media because the media would not be able to report freely about issues of health.

"It would also restrict ordinary citizens and workers from holding meetings in health facilities, and this is something that civil society should oppose immediately."

Makhanya said existing laws could be used to deal with strike intimidation and violence.