By Lubabalo Ngcukana
A shocking report by the Health portfolio committee paints a dismal picture of Transkei hospitals that are barely functioning, let alone providing quality healthcare.
The report, which the Daily Dispatch has in its possession, comes after a number of members of the provincial Legislature’s portfolio health committee visited hospitals in the OR Tambo District last month.
Among the findings, Holy Cross Hospital in Lusikisiki was reported to have only 111 usable beds out of a total of 180. The hospital has 71 vacant posts.
St Lucy’s Hospital in Tsolo was so dilapidated that the condition of the building was considered unsafe for patients and health workers.
Only 110 beds out of 155 were usable, although the hospital serves a population of 103 000 with eight feeder clinics.
At Zuthulele Hospital in Mqanduli, sewage pipes were leaking, the staff vacancy rate was 49 percent, and there was no facility to treat TB patients.
At Bambisani Hospital in Lusikisiki, only 120 of the 134 beds were usable, and the hospital had a staff vacancy rate of 46 percent.
St Barnabas Hospital in Ntlaza near Libode had only 327 of 780 posts filled, and Isilimela Hospital in Port St Johns had a 65 percent vacancy rate, with 141 posts not filled.
Only one functioning ambulance was reportedly serving the Mthatha area.
The report recommends that all critical and funded posts be filled within this financial year.
Department of Health provincial spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said Health MEC Phumulo Masualle visited the Transkei hospitals even before the portfolio committee and was shocked by the conditions of some.
The MEC had called an urgent provincial health summit for East London on November 12 and 13.
DA provincial health spokesperson Pine Pienaar said: “We are sitting with a massive healthcare problem” and called for a skills audit.
