'Why are our hospitals dirty? It is this system called tenders'
The SA Health Review and District Health Barometer released this week sketches a bleak picture of dirty hospitals, huge underspending and severe skills shortages
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Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi briefed reporters on the documents in Pretoria.
The content tell a tale of persistent under-expenditure on the country’s health infrastructure projects due to the lack of skilled staff, poor supervision of projects, and failure by contractors to do their jobs in provincial health systems.
The minister received the review, which focused on key policy issues affecting the health sector, and the District Health Barometer which focused on the performance of the health system.
In 2010/11, according to the document, under-spending on health capital amounted to around R2.3 billion. The health department had, in some instances, withheld funds due to slow and poor spending on the hospital revitalisation grant.
Motsoaledi said though most of the country’s health institutions had not fared well in the barometer, efforts were being made, working with health institutions’ leaders, to improve the situation.
“We have set very high standards for ourselves (on cleanliness). When 74% of our institutions do not meet the standards, it doesn’t mean any of our institutions look like a pigsty.
“Why are our hospitals dirty? It is this system called tenders.
“The companies (given government tenders) pick people who are stranded in the street and give them cleaning jobs at our clinics.
“Those employees only take instructions from their bosses, not the hospital staff.
“The same is happening with our hospital security.
“Companies just pick people in the street. We have many foreigners coming into the country, and they get hired as security guards. When time for payment comes, the company owners call the police and say arrest these illegal immigrants.”
Lack of good security at the country’s health institutions came under the spotlight recently after several doctors and nurses were attacked or killed at work.
He said national government had come up with several intervention strategies, working together with local authorities.
“In this weekend’s newspapers you are going to see advertisements for at least 92 hospital CEOs (chief executive officers). We want to ensure that we have the right people with the right skills and experience in our hospitals.”
Motsoaledi said the reason for advertising was not only to hire the adequately qualified personnel, but also to make permanent appointments for posts that had been filled on an acting basis.
“Research has shown that CEOs who perform well at our hospitals are those with a background in health. Those without that experience are struggling to cope. We will be redeploying them elsewhere, we don’t want to fire them.”
Motsoaledi said 20 staff from his department had trained in the United Kingdom and would be made hospital inspectors.
“They are now back and itching to be unleashed to inspect our public institutions.”
He said the thrust of the National Health Insurance (NHI) model was to empower health authorities, at district level, to make more significant decisions than in the past.
The minister said all sections of the National Health Act, passed in 2003, had been proclaimed by President Jacob Zuma and would be in force by March 1.
Motsoaledi said prices being charged by private healthcare facilities were excessive and needed to be regulated.
“The exorbitant prices have to come down. Poor service being given in public institutions does not give anyone a right to exploit our citizens. Pricing in the private sector has to be regulated.”
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Comments
Gae-Mohlalaotoane
Hai kea bona bara sepetlele sa Tsimanyane le Groblersdal. Di nkga phuu, ga ke tsebe gore di patients di ja bjang go nkga so. Motsoaledi dira something.Report Abuse
PleaseGetReal
'Why are our hospitals dirty? It is this system called tenders======================================================
It is not the system's fault, it is the people who is running the system with fat greedy fingers, they give the tenders to the wrong people who hands them a backhand in return. A person over 30 who still calls himself youth comes to mind.
Report Abuse
Naivegirl
Sowetan - I copied a section of your article and you rejected my comment based on a word you used yourself - wowReport Abuse
Makadebona
When I grew up Chris Hani (Baragwanath) hospital was the one of the best hospital in the country in terms of cleaniness and treatment but now it is a disgrace . Hospitals are supposed to be the most hygenic place but now it's the opposite. I think those who have been given cleaning contracts and do not meet the contract specification should be taken into task. But sadly that will not happen because these big contracts are given to pals and the authorities benefit one way or the other, therefore they will never be punished for this wrong doing. They are looting the tax payers money. This beautiful country is going down the drain, we are going in the direction of becoming another Zim.Report Abuse
Vhamsanda
If you want to see a real horrible hospital , visit Paardekraal in Mogale City. Phew !The clerks look young but with ancient attitude.
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Naivegirl
In 2010/11, according to the document, under-spending on health capital amounted to around R2.3 billion.++++++++
Are you saying that people suffered and recieved poor health care for no reason at all?
“The companies (given government tenders) pick people who are stranded in the street and give them cleaning jobs at our clinics.
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That is called job creation. So a homeless person doesn't deserve a job????????
Lack of good security at the country’s health institutions came under the spotlight recently after several doctors and nurses were attacked or KiIIed at work.
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So now the private companies should take the blame for the crime rate in South Africa????
“Research has shown that CEOs who perform well at our hospitals are those with a background in health.
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Really??? You had to do research to figure that one out?????????
“They are now back and itching to be unleashed to inspect our public institutions.”
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Are you saying that there were no skilled inspectors until now?? Now wonder the hospitals are dirty.
My gosh - I truly don't know why South Africans put up with this?
Report Abuse
Manala
"The content tell a tale of persistent under-expenditure on the country’s health infrastructure projects due to the lack of skilled staff, poor supervision of projects, and failure by contractors to do their jobs in provincial health systems.">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
God forbid that competent white people be appointed to these positions.
Rather have unskilled people or no people than a competent white person.
This is the direct result of AA.
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LaVidaLoca
The rot is at the top.....ANC.....Report Abuse
Ngwana-Modimo-Feela
Please, Please fire Sifiso, the Acting CEO at Pholosong Hospital, he and his gang are evil, corrupt and selfish, We need change, change is what we need!! these people are clueless at what they are doing to the public, they are useless!!!Report Abuse
Noir19
Pure incompetencies of Bantu people coupled with political power and arrogance towards their own people. ....if for e.g you put Phuthuma Nhleko, at the helm of Bara, you surely gona see progress and serious turnaround strategies.....but cosatu and the MEC wont allow that they need one of their members who knows no shit_ to be the one who runs the hospital. there is no political will to change poor service delivery and we will soon reach the brink, if i was a lawyer i was gonna milk the DoH, because 6 of ten patient who dies in hospital (beside) their other underlying medical condition there is always an element of incompetency and negligence which facilitate their death.Report Abuse
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