The state of Chris Hani Hospital and health in general in the province

COSATU in Gauteng has been observing with great concern the state of health in the province and in particular at the tertiary hospitals. We have also noted several interventions by the Minister of Health, Dr Motsoaledi, during the course of 2011 and also by the National Government recently in December 2011, which is welcomed by the federation in the province.

We are aware that there are serious structural problems within the department that require urgent attention. We have led marches with our members on several occasions to the department of health to raise serious problems about the state of health in the province, including the Chris Hani Hospital, but such steps have fallen on deaf ears.

The continuation of the crisis at the Chris Hani and other Health institutions reflects the structural problems which are far deeper than what might meet the eye. We hence support the view of NEHAWU that the problems in the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) are in the main a result of outsourcing of these services by Government.

The utilization of labour brokers and understaffing are some of the issues that we need to address as a matter of urgency. The death of about 318 babies in three months, an average of over 3 deaths per day, indicates a serious crisis in the system.

The NHLS is now currently being managed as a private entity with the sole aim of maximizing profits. Hence they have the nerve to close down more than 9 centres in the name of non-payment by the Provincial Department and this has a huge impact on the provision of services in the Province. In our view this is meant to maximize profits at the expense of our people and Government.

We are also aware that the services by the NHLS are more expensive than in the private sector and in some instances they bill the hospital for services that have not been rendered and are double-charging hospitals.

We therefore demand the following:

- A proper investigation into the state of the maternity wards in all the hospitals in the province and in particular at Chris Hani Baragwanath within 7 days and a plan to address the state of the maternity wards.

- The opening of all the NHLS centres that have been closed in the province within 7 days from today.

- The relocation of the NHLS back to Government and stopping of all the outsourcing in the Health Department.

COSATU will be convening an urgent meeting between the MEC for Health, Minister of Health, Gauteng Premier and all COSATU Public Sector union to holistically deal with these issues.

Statement issued by COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, Dumisani Dakile, February 13 2012

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