The Democratic Alliance welcomes the Gauteng Health Department’s commitment to pay its phone bills so that communication is restored to 11 hospitals that have been cut off for more than 5 weeks.
These include the Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, Steve Biko, Pretoria West, Weskoppies, Jubilee, Pholosong, Far East Rand, Tara, Tshwane District and Carletonville hospitals.
There were originally 32 hospitals cut off, causing immense trauma to patients and their relatives who could not make contact through the telephone.
Staff had to use their own cellphones to arrange transfers and get laboratory results.
This situation should never have been allowed to drag on for so long.
It’s one more example of a dysfunctional department that can’t even do a simple thing like pay its bills on time.
Real change will only occur when the ANC is booted from power in Gauteng to enable to DA to rescue this department for the benefit of sick and injured people.