Nationwide strike fuels fears of spread of diseases

No blood tests and diagnosis as labs shut down

The nationwide strike that has hit the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) could have dire consequences that could lead to the spread of diseases and loss of life.

Workers told Sowetan yesterday on the first day of the national strike by nearly 7000 employees that they were “aware and concerned about the risks and consequences” the shutdown could have.

There are nearly 300 laboratories countrywide.

“We want to work but we are tired of empty promises. We are aware of the risks. The shutdown means that samples received from hospitals and clinics across the country cannot be processed.

“This will leave the poor and most vulnerable without the medical care that they need. Because we are on strike, it means that doctors cannot diagnose patients, leaving people at risk,” said an employee at the Braamfontein branch.

The office receives about 8 000 samples daily and it’s the only lab that caters for genetic testing. This lab receives samples from other countries including Namibia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Angola.

“It is saddening because we had to turn away people who were here for paternity tests. It takes about two to three months for someone to get an appointment,” said another worker.

The workers are demanding a 7.3% increase, danger and rural allowances, among other requests. “We are exposed to diseases and viruses every day. Anything can happen to anyone of us in there,” said a third employee.

In a statement yesterday, NHLS acting CEO Professor Shabir Madhi said they were owed R5-billion by a “select few provincial departments of health”.

“The NHLS board notes that the biggest challenge facing the organisation was nonpayment by provincial departments of health for laboratory services rendered by the NHLS...”

Madhi said the outstanding debt had negatively affected the cash flow of the NHLS.

But workers did not want to hear any of it. “We are being used to fight NHLS battles. They are happy that we are here on the streets because we are putting pressure on government to pay monies owed to the NHLS,” said another employee at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital laboratory.

“We will not back down on our demands,” said another employee, adding that the employer had put employees on the same salary scale while management had increases by uptoR400 000.

The Gauteng department of health refused to comment, referring Sowetan to the national Department of Health, which could also not be reached for comment yesterday.

Spokesman for health department in Kwazulu-natal Sam Mkhwanazi said it noted the NHLS statement but said it would not comment but rather “prefers to engage with its stakeholders directly”.