Fire KZN health MEC or cancer patients face Esidimeni crisis‚ say DA

19 June 2017 - 19:26 By Nathi Olifant
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
DA shadow MEC for health Imran Keeka said the unfolding oncology crisis in KwaZulu-Natal is so dire that it can be likened to the Life Esidimeni tragedy. File photo.
DA shadow MEC for health Imran Keeka said the unfolding oncology crisis in KwaZulu-Natal is so dire that it can be likened to the Life Esidimeni tragedy. File photo.
Image: ©2windspa / Istock.com

The unfolding oncology crisis in KwaZulu-Natal is so dire that it can be likened to the Life Esidimeni tragedy which resulted in the death of more than 100 mental health patients under the ANC government in Gauteng.

That's according to DA shadow MEC for health Imran Keeka‚ speaking after a SA Human Rights Commission investigation found that the KwaZulu-Natal department of health has failed its cancer patients.

The 68-page SAHRC report following a complaint by Keeka in February last year found that "the delays in the provision of‚ and in some cases the denial of‚ oncology services to cancer patients‚ some of whom are destitute and in need of health care‚ affects them in a most fundamental way. It poses a serious threat to the patients' lives and the enjoyment of other rights. It cannot be denied that the rights to life and human dignity‚ which are intertwined in our constitution are intertwined in this matter."

On Monday‚ Keeka wasted no time in calling for an urgent snap debate in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature over the issue.

“As in the case of the Life Esidimeni tragedy this KwaZulu-Natal crisis highlights the ANC-government’s failures and shows zero accountability or care on the part of the ANC. It proves its disdain for some of the most vulnerable South Africans – those who suffer from serious conditions and rely on the state for their care‚” said Keeka.

He said up until now Premier Willies Mchunu‚ health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo as well as health minister Aaron Motsoaledi have simply ignored the plight of thousands of cancer patients across the province as cancer treatment in KwaZulu-Natal’s health department all but ground to a halt.

“In a blatant example of how little the ANC cares for the most needy people in our society‚ there has been zero accountability from any of them‚” said Keeka.

He called for Mchunu to fire Dhlomo for allowing the department to “deteriorate into such a disastrous state and allowing hundreds of cancer patients to be compromised”.

ANC secretary in KwaZulu-Natal Super Zuma said while they will discuss the issue‚ the ball is also in the national government’s court to discuss the issue at cabinet level.

“Yes we did an assessment of the MEC and all other MECs last year. We had no problem with him except pointing to a few areas of improvements to all the MECs. We haven’t assessed him this year‚” he said.

Keeka said it was unlikely that the department would heed the report from the SAHRC.

“We therefore urge the commission to begin legal consultation immediately in anticipation of this and advise that they ensure through courts‚ if it comes to that‚ that the interests of the people of our province are placed first. They must be prepared to initiate prosecution if the MEC and his department create delays or even disregard this report‚” said Keeka.

Dhlomo and his department are now required to report to the Commission‚ within ten days of receipt of the report on its investigation.

“We expect nothing but denials‚ obfuscation and more failures of accountability‚ as this is the pattern set in stone in the ANC government‚” said Keeka.

Health activist Mary de Haas said the report findings were fair but failed to take into account the reason for the non-functioning machines especially at Addington which has massively contributed to the patient backlog.

"There has been much controversy about the machines at Addington hospital which were not serviced after the supplier wasn't paid. We are aware that the department claims there were irregularities around this process‚ but there is no reason to stop servicing the machines and punish innocent patients."

DA’S recommendations to the KZN Health Department:

- A special committee must be established in KZN to oversee the findings of the Commission. The committee must include the Premier‚ the MEC and opposition spokespeople on Health.

This committee will be responsible for implementing the following short-term solutions:

- Retired oncologists can be approached to consult for the state‚ for a necessary period‚ until the oncology crisis is resolved;

- Specialists in the private sector can be requested to locum in state hospitals and compensation for the difference in rates could be in the form of a tax rebate/discount;

- The Provincial Health Department can go into a partnership agreement with private practices‚ allowing the state to send patients to private practices where the state will pay at a negotiated rate; and

- The National Health Minister‚ Aaron Motsoaledi‚ can exercise the right to fast track registration for foreign doctors in the Health Professions Act so that talented oncologists can be brought in from other countries urgently.

- TimesLIVE

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