MPs worried about military hospital

MPs on Thursday expressed concern over the slow pace of renovations to One Military Hospital in Pretoria.

 

Parliament's defence portfolio committee visited it as part of its oversight of SA National Defence Force facilities in the country.

 

"While extensive work has been done to refurbish the hospital, the committee is concerned that some areas are not yet completed, which negatively impacts on the ability of the hospital to render services," committee chairman Malusi Motimele said in a statement.

 

The committee called on the public works department to speed up the renovations.

 

"As a level four hospital, the hospital has the ability to deliver quality services to our armed forces, as well as to the United Nations peace-keeping operations in Africa, [the] African Union Standby Force, [and] the [Southern African Development Community], but they need appropriate facilities to deliver that service," Motimele said.

 

The financial implications of the slow pace of renovation were worrying.

 

"The hospital has had to outsource some of the functions, such as X-rays, which cost the hospital about R3 million per month. The committee is of the view that this money could be used elsewhere if the renovations were completed on time."

 

- Sapa