GAUTENG HEALTH UNDERSPEND CONTINUES AS HOSPITALS CRUMBLE

The Gauteng Health Department has continued to underspend its capital budget this year despite hospitals that are desperately in need of refurbishment and repair.

According to the Department's Second Quarterly Report tabled recently in the Gauteng Legislature, only R489 million (54%) was spent out of R914 million allocated for the period April to September this year.

This means that R425 million available money was not spent, and is unlikely to be fully spent by the end of the year.

The underspend is attributed to the delay in implementing projects due to a number of inspectors being suspended by the Department of Infrastructure Development. Also blamed are delayed payments on goods and services and delayed processing of receipts for contractors.

This is a poor excuse. The money should be spent urgently to fix major sewage problems at the Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospitals.

Other hospitals also need urgent repair.

The root of the problem is terrible management at the Infrastructure Development Department.

It would be far better if repair and maintenance were handled directly by hospitals rather than a separate incompetent department.

Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu should empower hospital management so that the budget is spent rather than wasted.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, November 12 2014

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