The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West is concerned that a staggering amount of R1.1 billion in accrued invoices will be carried over to the Department of Health’s 2020/21 financial year, placing strain on an already limited budget.

This came to light during a virtual meeting yesterday, when the Department of Health presented its fourth quarter report to the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health.

At the start of the 2019/20 financial year, R839 million in accruals had been carried over from previous years and out of the 8 788 accrued invoices paid in the last quarter, some date as far back as 2012.

The enormous backlog of accrued, unpaid invoices has put immense strain on hospitals and clinics that are unable to supply vital medication to patients.

Due to a shortage of medical supplies, only 49.6% of children under the age of one year had been vaccinated in the fourth quarter.

Several mothers in need of vaccinations for their children, along with other patients in need of chronic medication for conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, have in recent weeks been turned away at clinics.

This not only poses a serious health risk, but also speaks of financial mismanagement and the failure of the National intervention in terms of Section 100(1)(b).

The inability of the Administrator, Jeanette Hunter, to successfully steer the Department out of its dire financial straits since her appointment in May 2018, speaks volumes and should be enough reason for her to step down.

We will write to the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, to intervene by appointing a competent administrator to ensure that the supply of medicine is restored and that drastic measures are implemented to bring the Department’s finances in order.

In the face of escalating Covid-19 infections, it is disgraceful that the Department only achieved 71% of its overall targets for the fourth quarter, but managed to spend 103% of its budget.

Patients are entitled to quality healthcare and do not deserve to suffer at the hands of medicine and surgical equipment shortages, inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and substandard healthcare facilities.

Issued by DA