The DA is calling for Gauteng and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to be fired following the disclosure in court documents that R250 million for urgent cancer treatment was returned to Treasury as it was unspent last year.
This information came to light in the case brought by Section27, Cancer Alliance and Treatment Action Campaign against the Gauteng Health Department concerning the R784 million allocation by Treasury for a three-year period to cut the backlog of 3000 patients requiring radiation treatment.
The department failed to spend the R250 million for the 2023/24 financial year and applied for the money to be rolled over into this year, but Treasury refused this.
It now appears that the R261 million available to be spent in this financial year will not be fully used either due to delays in signing up private hospitals to do radiation treatment for public patients.
The urgency is that there are about 3000 cancer patients waiting for radiation treatment, which should be done within 60 days of surgery or chemotherapy, and no later than 90 days, to destroy remaining malignant cancer cells.
I estimate that hundreds of cancer patients have needlessly suffered and died because of the outrageous delay in spending the available budget. This is as big a scandal as the Life Esidimeni disaster in which 144 mental patients died after they were sent to unsuitable NGOs.
This is why the ANC stalled my motion of censure in the Gauteng Legislature against the Health MEC for her failure to work with cancer interest groups to ensure speedy treatment to save the lives of cancer patients.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi should fire Nkomo-Ralehoko and appoint a competent Health MEC to save the lives of hundreds of cancer patients and fix the endemic problems in our public hospitals.