Keep government accountable for state hospitals

Action Society today launched a petition to urge the government to clean up and turn around state hospitals.

The sexual assault of a two-year-old in a Covid-19 isolation ward of the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria and rats drinking bloody water from blocked drains at the Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth are real examples of what is happening in South Africa’s state hospitals now. 

“We need government hospitals with high standards of service delivery,” says Daleen Gouws, spokesperson of Action Society. “An efficient workforce will help us to bring our state-owned medical institutions to an acceptable level of functionality after decades of deterioration.

“With the appointment of qualified, responsible and accountable management and staff, South Africa can turn around the neglect, which led to 3 832 deaths in Gauteng state hospitals in 2018.”

It should be standard practice for medical personnel, the department of health and the government to take responsibility and be held accountable for the 2 307 deaths of new-born babies, 238 maternal deaths, 866 septic caesareans, 1 052 reported cases of bedsores and 1,148 cases of babies suffering brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during birth.

It should be standard practice to refer deaths, injuries or suffering incurred because of incorrect medical procedures, a lack of proper working equipment or inexperienced personnel for disciplinary action. It is not acceptable to refer only 2% of these types of incidents for disciplinary action, as confirmed by the Gauteng MEC for Health, Bandile Masuku.

“More than half of South Africans depend on the national health system,” says Gouws. “They should rest assured that the person treating them or managing the hospital is competent and the best candidate for the job. They should know that health personnel have the necessary skills and experience to do their work.”

Support Action Society in their plight to clean up and turn around state hospitals, and hold government accountable for our medical facilities by signing this petition.
 
ISSUED BY: Action Society
DATE: 29 July 2020

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Daleen Gouws,
Spokesperson: Action Society,
Cell: 0812338351

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