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The Democratic Alliance is most concerned by the latest Gauteng Health payment disaster as 1000 doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers have not been paid for more than six weeks.

These workers were brought in to assist hospital at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Their contracts expired at the end of March, but they were retained to assist with the vast patient overload in Gauteng public hospitals.

They were not paid in April and the Gauteng Health Department is saying it will be two more weeks before they are paid.

As usual, they blame administrative issues, but it is unacceptable that workers have to suffer for so long without payment.

It follows other payment failures with dire consequences such as food shortages at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Imagine doing a stressful hospital job and then not getting paid while your bills keep coming in.

Meanwhile, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has been notable silent on the chronic malfunction in our public hospitals.

It is time for him to step in with decisive measures to drastically improve efficiency in this crucial sector that so many people depend on to stay alive and well.

Issued by Jack Bloom MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC