DA uncovers rot at state hospitals
TOUR: FINDS SEVERE STAFF SHORTAGES, LACK OF BEDS
Shows possible failure of proposed National Health Insurance, says party.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) national oversight tour to healthcare facilities uncovered severe staff shortages, lack of critical care beds and Gauteng spending millions on procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) from companies that did not comply to regulations or simply failed to deliver.
The party said this was a clear indication of the possible failure of the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI).
Speaking during a Zoom media briefing, DA chairperson Natasha
Mazzone said while R5 billion was lost or misappropriated due to corruption and irregular tender processes, Gauteng also awarded millions of rands worth of tenders irregularly.
According to Mazzone, R4.5 million was paid to companies that did not supply any goods; R5 million was paid for PPE without contracts put in place; R12 million worth of goods were delivered without purchase orders; R82 million worth of supplies were ordered from companies which were not registered with National Treasury’s central supplier database; and R239 million worth of PPE was ordered from companies that were not tax-compliant and with unverified bank accounts.
This has further motivated the party to dismiss the proposed NHI bill. “The DA contends that a compelling case has been made for the rejection of this Bill in its current form by the weakness shown by our health system over the past six months since the outbreak of Covid-19,” she said.
“It is for that reason that we want to ensure that the legislative process is followed to the letter, with no political pressure to rush this Bill for the sake of ANC political pressure.”
Discussions about the NHI Bill will continue in parliament in the coming weeks as the portfolio committee of health resumes the legislative process. The NHI public hearings were concluded in February but the process was suspended in parliament due to the pandemic.
The DA has submitted a letter to committee chairperson Sibongiseni Dhlomo, chairperson of the committees in parliament Cedric Frolick and National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise, listing its “non-negotiables” for the process, accompanied by a “fierce opposition” to the process being rushed.
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