Plans to deal with oncology crisis

INTERVENTIONS to deal with the crisis in oncology to be handled by the treasury department include:

The department being in temporarily in control of supply chain management, including taking stock of tenders, and:

A contract register to be finalised by the end of August and all tender backlogs cleared by January 2018.

Doing a cost analysis on the extent of the intervention required on the department’s pharmaceuticals and the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supply Depot after weaknesses in controls and inefficiencies were identified.

Deploying panels of consultants for eight months to identify gaps and shortcomings in the department’s internal control environment, provide training where required, and make a credible Asset Register available for the 2017/18 audit.

Paying service providers by the end of August.

Reprioritising health budget to ensure critical posts are filled

INTERVENTIONS FINALISED:

Three private companies committed to providing oncology services

US radiotherapy machine manufacturers Varian assessing oncology machines at Addington Hospital.

Standard maintenance agreement for equipment to be finalised and implemented.