The backlog of medical procedures in the Free State province has nearly doubled to 5 075 in the last two years.
The Free State MEC for Health, Mr Monyatso Mahlatsi, indicated in reply to a question by the FF Plus that the Universitas Hospital has a medical procedures backlog of 2 962 and the Pelonomi Hospital 596.
The Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem has a backlog of 629, the Bongani Hospital in Kroonstad 523 and the Boitumelo Hospital in Welkom 340.
In September 2022, the former national Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, indicated that the Free State had a total backlog of 2 947.
It has nearly doubled in less than two years.
The FF Plus is particularly concerned about the MEC’s admission that patients may have to wait up to five years for orthopaedic procedures. While patients who need to undergo general surgery could wait up to two years.
In addition, the MEC also admitted that a shortage of nursing staff and the Health Department’s procurement procedures knee-halter gynaecological services in the Free State.
At present, 66% of the people of the Free State rely on public healthcare services.
The backlog in medical procedures will be exacerbated if the National Health Insurance (NHI) is implemented in the Free State and everyone has to rely on state hospitals and clinics.
The FF Plus will insist in the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health that the Department explains how it will eradicate these backlogs.
It is unacceptable that patients’ rights to decent medical care and dignity are violated by unreasonably long waits.
;
