Blood labs bled dry

24 March 2014 - 08:54 By KATHARINE CHILD
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Blood donor. File photo.
Blood donor. File photo.
Image: Lebohang Nthongoa

Seven out of 10 patients in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal might soon be refused diagnostic blood tests, leaving doctors unable to treat them.

The National Health Laboratory Service is owed so much money that it has had to stop courier services that transport blood samples from clinics in KwaZulu-Natal to laboratories.

It is in last-minute discussions with Gauteng to prevent courier services being stopped later this week.

The Times has learnt that the two provinces together owe the laboratory service almost R4-billion, which has left it with only enough money to pay the salaries of its 7500 staff.

The other seven provinces are paying their bills.

A doctor at the laboratory service said about 70% of all patients needed a blood test for laboratory diagnoses or management of their illness or condition.

"A lot of diseases don't have specific presentations and a diagnostic test is needed to find out what is wrong," he said.

"We have a TB epidemic in South Africa and most TB cases need a confirmatory test as TB symptoms are very general."

Another laboratory employee said: "If a doctor suspects cancer, one needs to confirm what kind of cancer it is as treatment will depend on what you find."

"The National Health Laboratory Service is an integral part of the health system," said another staff member.

If Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal do not pay up in the next two weeks, the laboratory service will stop diagnostic testing in those provinces.

The KwaZulu-Natal department of health has not paid in three years and owes R3-billion.

Gauteng owes R900-million and has had left bills unpaid for the past six months.

On Thursday, the Gauteng department of health paid R77-million to the laboratory service, but the labs are expecting at least R200-million by tomorrow.

The laboratory service has not been able to pay its suppliers and owes just one supplier more than R100-million.

While KwaZulu-Natal laboratory services will continue this week, clinic nurses and doctors at hospitals will have to get all samples to the labs themselves.

A spokesman for the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa, Michelle Connolly, said transport, and later diagnostic services, would be stopped in a bid to pressure provinces to pay.

"Non-payment is not a new problem," said the spokesman.

The laboratory service has set up a hotline for emergency diagnoses of deadly diseases.

Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng spokesman on health, yesterday leaked a letter that CEO Sagie Pillay sent laboratory staff last week telling them of the measures. It says: "Given our responsibility to secure this organisation and . to ensure its long-term sustainability, the NHLS has no choice but to act."

An insider who asked to remain anonymous said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi had tried to intervene to settle the debts, without success.

Gauteng health department spokesman Simon Zwane said the non-payment was a result of a disagreement with the service:

"We are in discussions with the service about disputed matters that caused delays in payment. We are confident that the courier services will not be stopped while these discussions continue."

Pillay said courier services in Gauteng would continue for now and he was hopeful an agreement would be reached tomorrow.

National Department of Health spokesman Joe Maila said Gauteng was committed to paying.

"The laboratory service knows this for a fact and we find extremely strange that such a letter should be sent out to staff."

KwaZulu-Natal health department spokesman Samuel Mkhwanazi did not return calls asking for comment.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now