Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
27 February 2024 | 10:00 CAT
2 min read

In a concerning development for healthcare access in Gauteng, several public hospitals face a severe communication crisis as their telephone lines remain non-operational. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has attributed this distressing situation to the failure of the provincial health department to settle outstanding phone bills.

According to Jack Bloom, a spokesperson for the DA, the impact of this communication breakdown is significant. For more than two weeks now, patients have been left stranded, unable to make inquiries or schedule appointments, while anxious relatives remain in the dark, unable to obtain updates on the condition of their loved ones. Compounding the issue, hospital staff are resorting to using their personal cellphones to facilitate transfers or obtain critical laboratory results.

Speaking to Radio Islam, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom emphasised: “This has been going on for two weeks now, and only now has the Gauteng Health Department responded to my press statement. They said 32 hospitals have their phones cut because Telkom hasn’t been paid, and there are 83 clinics involved as well; this is a disaster.”

Bloom pointed out that there are inconsistencies in billing with Telkom, which are currently being addressed. However, he believes that this issue is a symptom of the overall mismanagement within the Gauteng Health Department.

The Gauteng Health Department’s accountability lies with its acting Chief Financial Officer, and the political accountability is with the MEC of Health and Wellness, as per Bloom.

“Part of the problem is that the two previous CFOs were suspended on suspicions of being involved in corruption. I am stunned they didn’t act until today when they sent out a statement acknowledging the problem,” he said.

Bloom believes that CEOs should have been vocal and proactive in demanding action to resolve the situation.

“These are major hospitals affected. Think of people who might have lost their lives because they couldn’t get through to the hospital. And how do families find out if their relatives have died?” he said.

According to Bloom, Outdated switchboards are a general problem in Gauteng hospitals.

“Even with regard to the outdated switchboards, they do not operate optimally; this is another issue. Initially, I thought the problem was because of the switchboards. But now I found out it is larger than that,” he added.

Bloom said that the department has shifted the blame onto discrepancies, asserting that a payment has been made while promising another payment in the future. However, there is no clear indication of when this subsequent payment will be made.

The inability to establish contact with medical facilities poses a grave risk to patient care and exacerbates the anxiety and uncertainty already experienced by those seeking medical attention.

As patients and their families grapple with the challenges posed by inaccessible hospital phone lines, there is a growing call for accountability and decisive action.

The DA urges Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to promptly intervene and ensure the immediate payment of outstanding telephone bills.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom, here.