Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Michele Clarke MP.
The DA will write to the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, to request the timeframes for implementing the recommendations at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RHMMC) that Health Ombud, Prof Malegapuru Makgoba, made in his recently released report.
After the release of the Ombud’s report, Dr Tim De Maayer, a specialist at RHMMC, revealed that the relationship between the staff and hospital management has improved, but that other issues highlighted by him and the Ombud persist.
Crumbling infrastructure, stock-outs of essential medicine and other items, staff shortages – including a head of obstetrics, and overcrowding have yet to be addressed. As has the reclassification of RMMCH as a tertiary hospital. Unless these problems are urgently addressed, staff morale will remain low impacting their mental health, as well as the health of the patients.
The DA will conduct an oversight at RMMCH to determine what, if any, progress has been made on implementing the Ombud’s recommendations.
This is the second investigation at the hospital that exposed the Gauteng Department of Health’s extensive failure to manage, maintain and develop the province’s public health sector to the detriment of patients and health care personnel.
The perpetual state of decline is an indictment against the ANC government and a chilling preview of what will happen at every health facility across the country should the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill be bulldozed through Parliament.