Shock at state hospitals’ R685m diesel bill
The Freedom Front Plus has expressed shock at the R685 million spent on diesel by the state hospitals between 1 April 2022 and 28 February 2023.
“This was revealed in the reply to a written question from the FF Plus to the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, after the Minister was unable to answer an oral question on the matter in Parliament,” said spokesperson Phillip van Staden.
“The country's public healthcare services already has a backlog of 175 000 medical procedures and legal-medical claims amounting to R125 billion. And in addition to that, astronomical amounts must be spent on generating electricity as well.”
According to the reply, KwaZulu-Natal spent R178 million, Gauteng R131 million and the Western Cape R102 million during the period in question.
Van Staden says the coming winter season will add to the massive diesel bill.
“With just 76 state hospitals and clinics out of a total of 213 currently being exempt from load shedding, the ongoing power crisis affecting healthcare institutions will only be exacerbated by winter that is already knocking at the door.”
He said the issue could be resolved through proper management by government.
“If South Africa's infrastructure had not totally collapsed and was managed and maintained properly over the last 29 years, and if corruption, mismanagement and maladministration were not at the order of the day, there would have been no need to contend with these major challenges.”
ALSO READ:
