The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Gauteng is alarmed at the collapse of an entrance to the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg yesterday. Hospitals are a place of safety and shelter, not a place where people are hurt. Our thoughts go out to those injured and we are thankful that there was no loss of life.  However, we are unequivocal that urgent steps need to be taken by MEC Ramokgopa to audit the infrastructure all Gauteng health facilities and ensure this does not happen again.

Today TAC Gauteng launches a fact finding mission into the state of hospitals across the province. Not only will we monitor the state of infrastructure but also the state of service delivery. Are there enough doctors, nurses, porters, security guards? Are people sent home without medicines? How long must people wait to be seen in the facilities? Are the facilities clean? Are there enough beds? Do people get the service they need?

On 16th March TAC Gauteng will be meeting for the first time with new MEC of Health, Gwen Ramokgopa. We are committed to engaging with her constructively to bring an end to the crisis in the public healthcare system. In addition to other issues, we will raise our concerns over the state of our facilities. We urge MEC Ramokgopa to undertake an urgent audit of health facilities across the province. The results of which should be made public together with a plan to address any failings. The department must strengthen the Infrastructure Unit (in conjunction with the Department of Public Works) to address backlog maintenance, routine maintenance and the building of new health facilities – as well as ensure better monitoring and oversight of material procurement processes – in order to prevent any further disasters in our health facilities.

Since 2012 we have been raising concerns about the dire state of health facility infrastructure in the province. A report issued by TAC and SECTION27 at the time highlighted in part the poor condition of buildings, the power failures, the lack of safety features, the potholes, the non functioning lifts and the impact of these failures on the provision of healthcare. As recently as last September, TAC Gauteng picketed outside Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus noting – among other issues – cracks and leaks in the hospital building that have yet to be addressed.

Reports that doctors at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital have been complaining for years about the structural problems are especially alarming. Even worse is that they feel the need to remain anonymous in making these reports. We urge MEC Ramokgopa to ensure a new era of openness, engagement and accountability from the provincial health department. No healthcare worker should fear victimization or job security as a result of speaking out. In order to ensure better communication flows, accountability structures such as hospital boards and clinic committees should be fully functional to ensure the concerns of health workers and community members are addressed effectively. A system should be established to take management teams out of their offices and into the community to listen to the needs of the people on a regular basis.

Proper maintenance of existing infrastructure and the development of more suitable infrastructure is essential to ensure safety, suitability, cleanliness and the proper functioning of facilities across the province. While Treasury cuts the health facility revitalization grant, the onus is on the MEC Ramokgopa to ensure enough money is put towards maintenance projects through the equitable share. National cuts must not impact negatively on the quality of our health facilities.

Issued by TAC