Task team to probe healthcare meltdown
task team to the Eastern Cape
photo credit: mg.co.za
This follows a report released yesterday (11th) by the Eastern Cape Health Crisis Action Coalition of a widespread deterioration of patient care.
Health ministry spokesperson Joe Maila said the national task team would “find corrective measures and hold people accountable for failing to deliver acceptable healthcare to our people”.
“We acknowledge that there are problems and we are going to deal with them, but we really object to the fact that confidential patient records have been used in the public domain,” said Maila.
Treatment Action Campaign national chairperson Anele Yawa said the Minister had met with Coalition leaders on Monday and undertaken to investigate all complaints, including the suspension of a doctor, Dingeman Rijken, who had reported on the deth of his patient, known only as “Baby Ikho”.
Justice Zac Yacoob, a board member of Coalition member SECTION27, said his organisation regarded court action as the last resort.
“I have read the affidavits on which the report is based and they are horrendous,” said Yacoob at a Coalition press conference.
“The Minister of Health is unhappy about the publicity and understandably so, but people have tried to deal with this quietly for many, many years.
“Corruption is a huge part of the problem. It is so deep that unless the police can act hand-in-hand with the health department, the problems will not be resolved.
“Premature court proceedings are never good. We would like the department to produce a plan about how and by what time these problems are going to be resolved.
“We are very reluctant to go to court, but if we have to, we will.” – Health-e News Service.
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