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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West has written to the administrator for the Department of Health, Jeanette Hunter, requesting her to prioritise the filling of critical posts in hospitals and clinics.

Our communities have suffered long enough without proper basic services due to a shortage of professional nurses and doctors at hospitals and clinics.

The Progress Report on Section 100(1) (b) which was presented by Hunter at the Health Portfolio Committee Meeting, shows that efforts are being made to restore the functionality of the Department of Health.

We acknowledge these efforts but a lot more needs to be done to restore the delivery of health services. The system was fragile for many years and totally collapsed under the pressure of corruption, questionable tender contracts and the prolonged strike by members of NEHAWU.

We are particularly concerned with the minimal progress that has been made to fill 4220 priority posts in the Department of Health. These posts are essential in the day to day management of health services and for effective provision of health services to the people.

In addition to the acute staff shortage across all functions in the Department, we were informed they are also struggling to fill 576 posts comprising of a variety of health care staff such as doctors, specialists, professional nurses and other para-medical specialists.

These are key positions and are essential to restore and improve the delivery of health services. The DA recently reported on the dire situation at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital where one doctor and one nurse had to attend to nearly 40 pregnant women.

The Administrator also reported on the adverse impact of the absence of a coherent information management system in the Department.

We believe an effective information management system is an essential tool in the management of a health system and delivery of basic health services.

In the DA-governed Western Cape, patients have access to the best public health system in the country and we will continue to fight to ensure that the people of North West, and all South Africans, have access to dignified health services.

Issued by DA