GAUTENG HEALTH SUPPLIERS OWED R388M, OR IS IT R1.162 BN?

Suppliers to Gauteng hospitals are officially owed R388 million, but this could be as high as R1.162 billion if disputed claims are justified.

This is revealed in a written reply by Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to Nkomfe, there are 9484 unpaid bills amounting to R388 million.

Another R774 million is claimed by companies but invoices or Goods Received Vouchers are missing.

This shows the incredible chaos of the billing system run by the Gauteng Shared Services Centre.

It is a real crisis as small companies face bankruptcy if they are not paid, and other suppliers threaten to withhold vital services from hospitals.

It makes a mockery of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's commitment to pay all companies within 30 days as required by law.

All sorts of companies are owed money, including Vodacom, waste removal, employment agencies and suppliers of food, medical equipment and medicines.

The National Health Laboratory Services and the SA Blood Service are owed huge amounts, and so are many local governments.

This mess must be sorted out as soon as possible.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, February 15 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter