February 2012

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane recently announced that the provincial Health Department will operate on its own and that Social Services will now become the responsibility of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza. Mokonyane believes that this will help the ailing Health Department improve its service and provide better quality care for patients. Despite this many believe it will take a miracle to improve conditions at the many state hospitals and not just a 'healthier' budget.

Non-payment of service providers, a lack of equipment and staff shortages are issues that medical personnel are dealing with on a daily basis. But how does this affect the average patient going to a state hospital for a medical procedure, or a doctor who has committed to saving lives?

In the past year there, have been many denials from Health authorities and the situation has gradually worsened. While certain challenges are now being addressed, patients have told Eyewitness News that they will avoid going to a government hospital at all costs, if they can.

This in turn gives little hope to those who are waiting for the National Health Insurance (NHI) to be implemented. They're concerned that the NHI will be ineffective, if there aren't adequate services at the hospitals.

While many problems have been highlighted over the past year under Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe’s watch, she remains determined to turn things around.

But who should be held accountable for the past mistakes, the recent challenges and the current perception of the crippling state of the hospitals?

Mekgwe says ultimately she’s the political head, but there are many to blame and everyone should be held responsible for changing the way that Gauteng's hospitals are currently run.

March 2012

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe spent the 14th of March visiting hospitals and clinics across the province to assess the state of the healthcare system. After touring Chris Hani Baragwanath’s maternity unit, Mokonyane announced a new unit will be opened there, which will provide additional beds for the over 90 patients who are seen on a daily basis.

It follows an Eyewitness News expose about a woman who lost her baby at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital after waiting 18 hours to be seen by a doctor. She says she saw women being forced to give birth on the floor because there were no beds.

Mokonyane maintains that the healthcare system is not facing a crisis, but admits it is in demand and her department is doing everything it can to improve the system. That includes paying all outstanding invoices to health service providers by June 2012