2K BUG REMOVED FROM SA HOSPITALS

Issued by: Department of Health

Last week, the Mail and Guardian carried an inaccurate report, on the preparedness of hospitals for the year 2000 equipment compliance.

Regrettably the so-called "expert" referred to in the article, had not established facts with the Department of Health in this regard.

We would like to put it on record that 95% of critical equipment will be Y2K compliant by September 1999.

Below is the progress we have registered so far:

• The audit of medical equipment in public hospitals has been completed.
• The impact of the Y2K problem has been correctly analysed. Provinces are sharing the results of the analysis amongst themselves.
• Medical equipment has been categorised into two important areas, namely critical and non-critical medical equipment. Included in the critical medical equipment are intensive Care Units, Theatres, Cardiac Care Units, X-Rays and Laboratories. Non-critical equipment, most of which can be replaced with manual medical intervention, includes the blood pressure monitors.
• Three provinces have provided fixes for the equipment, including software and physical fixes.
• Testing of such equipment will resume in the next few weeks.
• The National office is co-ordinating at work done in the provinces and providing advice and expertise where necessary.
• Contingency plans have already been initiated, to address unforseen circumstances.

In concluskon, as a demonstration of the Department's commitment to serving our people and the country, management has taken a deliberate decision that none of the senior managers will take leave between December 1999 and January 2000.

The Department of Health appeals to the public and all interested parties to contact us at (012) 312 0605 and our partners, the National Year 2000 Decision Support Centre at (012) 427 8232 for reliable information relating to this programme.

15 April 1999