Motsoaledi denies that health care is on the brink of collapse

Motsoaledi briefed the media in Pretoria on Tuesday following comments by Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba that the country’s health care system is unsustainable. 

“It is very true and self-evident that the health care system is vey distressed and going through very hard times, there is no question about that.

“The burden of disease and hence the demand of healthcare has grown so exponentially that the system finds itself extremely overloaded.

“But has the system collapsed? I am not here to challenge that because I do not know the yardstick which was used to arrive at a conclusion of collapse,” Motsoaledi told reporters. 

The Department of Health has been battling numerous crises over the past few weeks.

State hospitals in Gauteng and North West have been hit by protest action by members of trade union Nehawu over working conditions and unpaid bonuses.

Striking workers shut down the Charlotte Maxeke hospital, emptying trash cans and blocking entrances to the hospital.

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal is also in the midst of an oncology crisis. 

But Motsaoledi has vowed to turn things around. 

“We will also help KZN and Gauteng with their radiation oncology backlogs in a programme to be launched early in August this year.

“Gauteng and KZN will get R100 million between them to deal with their backlogs,” the minister said.