'Broken cancer machines cost lives'
"We really get treated badly because of the poor service we receive as State hospital patients"
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Broken radiation machines, as a result of poor hospital and provincial healthcare administration, have made receiving life-saving cancer treatment impossible to access for many South African cancer patients.
This is because suppliers of these specialised cancer machines have allegedly refused to fix them because the Gauteng Department of Health hasn't paid outstanding supplier bills, advocacy group Campaigning for Cancer said in a statement.
"This situation, and continued administrative foul-ups, has left Anthony Naledi in a dire position."
In September last year, Anthony was diagnosed with colon cancer and managed to secure an appointment for his radiation treatment. He lives in Vanderbijlpark, so he has to leave his home before sunrise in order to arrive on time for his treatments.
On 2 March of this year, Charlotte Maxeke Hospital contacted him to confirm his appointment for 5 March. However, when he arrived at the hospital, he was informed that they had made a mistake and his appointment was actually on the 9th at 07h00. But when he returned on the 9th for his treatment, he was kept waiting until 14h00, only to be informed that the radiation machines were not working.
His appointment was rescheduled and when he returned on the 12th, he was once again told that his appointment had been cancelled, but this time, indefinitely, as no one at the hospital was sure when the equipment would be repaired.
Anthony's cancer is treatable, but it needed to be treated promptly and in line with specific treatment guidelines and timeframes. Thankfully, with the help of Campaigning for Cancer, Anthony was finally able to receive his treatment.
"Waiting months to obtain access to treatment is entirely unconstitutional. Waiting can be the difference between life and death for cancer patients," says Dr. Devan Moodley, Oncologist and Medical Director of Campaigning for Cancer.
Matters were proceeding adequately until late June when Anthony was due to have his colostomy bag removed.
The hospital admitted that it has now lost his file, and informed Anthony that they could not see him without it. He was promised that they would be in contact with him in two weeks' time. That was a month ago.
"They told me that they would let me know in two weeks which would have been on the 20th of June 2012 about my appointment but I have not heard anything from the hospital about my next appointment," Anthony says.
"Campaigning for Cancer advocates the rights of individual patients first and foremost - ensuring that care is obtained when needed - but due to the increasing number of people who are now being affected by non-service delivery and barriers to treatment, more class-based action is required. The Gauteng Department of Health and the MEC are not taking responsibility. Why has this issue not been addressed? Is it a case of the MEC and her Department simply not caring?" says Lauren Pretorius, Campaigning for Cancer CEO.
In an effort to get Anthony the treatment he requires, Campaigning for Cancer has sent correspondence, to Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, but the National Department, too, is remaining mum on this point.
"We really get treated badly because of the poor service we receive as state patients. This is putting my life at risk. I want to be here to see my grand children grow up. Not pass away because of a state hospital's poor administration. When will the MEC sit up and take notice? Once someone has died?" Anthony points out.
How many people are experiencing the same issue and not being treated? Campaigning for Cancer is calling for everyone who is suffering the same problem to come forward.
"It is obviously going to take a mass group of cases to be reported before someone in the Gauteng Department of Health takes steps to rectify this issue."
About Campaigning for Cancer:
Campaigning for Cancer is an advocacy organisation that was formed in 2008 to give South African patients and those affected by cancer a voice. It lobbies for the promotion and protection of the rights of patients and those affected by cancer with regard to policy, healthcare costs and healthcare delivery.
The group can be contacted via a Call Centre on 0861 ASK NOW (0861 275 699) or its website, www.campaign4cancer.co.za.
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Comments
hulas
Our people are really suffering at state hospitals.The main problem is incompetent anc cadres with no medical back-round that are running our hospitals.Nurses they have stinking attitude,work at their slow pace and when they want.This poor service in most cases anc government goes unpunished.In the next couple of months my girlfriend is due to give birth,although I can afford a private hospital she will be going to Tembisa hospital.If anything goes wrong during labour I will sue zumas sorry @rse and interdict the whole system.Report Abuse
Papage
Some department are so important I think we need more than one Minister. Healthcare, Police, Housing and Food Farming just to name those I feel they are very important. Maybe we should start asking, is one Minister enough for these divisions, I know provinces have their own incompetent leaders, who were appointed neupotismally. It is time the National Government look at this and make proper decisions, Aorom Motswaledi is trying but I feel he can not cover every provience, he needs capacity and there are lots of Youth who can be trained to help the Government. Look at Tokyo, his mind is on ANC Leadership and yet his Department is very crucial as well, Farming, who is the minister there, is this country ploughing the fields well enough, will we sustein our food produce? No she need help, Police, there are so many divisions in the police I even get confused and they all do one thing, steal from the State and claim to be fighting Crime. We need competent Leaders, Leaders who can make decisions that are good for the Country, Leaders like the acting SABC ChiefReport Abuse
mthosam
Better buy expensive Jet than Cancer Machine. keep on voting fellows. no woman no cryingReport Abuse
mthosam
Better buy expensive Jet than Cancer Machine. keep on voting fellows. no woman no crying. stop critising our beloved Government. haaa, you want us to buy cancer machines what is that compared to our pres fying alone on R2 billion worth of flight. you so jelous to Zuma heeReport Abuse
Pointman
I guess there will be no hastily arranged summit on this issue. The spear got a summit in 2 days, Limpopo textbooks 6 months, this issue - maybe 12 months or never. Service delivery - more serious - we needs some deaths for government to react.I am glad the bloggers who have commented so far has fingered the real problem - incompetence and uncaring attitude. The money is certainly available.
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