Johannesburg – The DA’s Lindy Wilson said yesterday that the party was appalled by the Department of Health’s report presented to the parliamentary portfolio committee on health on Wednesday.
“The report highlights the collapse of the health facilities and care in South Africa and the ANC government’s neglect of its citizens. The DA has requested the Human Rights Commission to investigate how the surgery backlogs impact the constitutional rights of our people and deny their quality of life,” the shadow deputy minister of health said.
She added that the backlog of orthopaedic surgeries, which include fractures, knee and hip replacements, ran for up to seven years.
“The implications for those requiring these surgeries are huge. They are living in unbelievable pain and often cannot function optimally. Many end up having to use walking aids and wheelchairs and some have lost their jobs as a result,” Wilson said.
Cancer patients requiring mastectomies and other cancer-related surgeries will have to wait between one and two years for life saving treatment.
“It is common knowledge that in order to arrest the spread of cancer, biopsies and removal of tumours and masses must be done as quickly as possible. Life expectancy of cancer patients is seriously affected by this appalling state of affairs, and those that could have good lives when treatments are done immediately, will be denied this,” Wilson said.
The department’s report also revealed that waiting time for hysterectomies can be up to two years, cataract removals up to three years and the list goes on.
“Section 27 of the Constitution states clearly that everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care. It further states that no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.
“Everyone has the right to equality, including access to health care services, which means that individuals should not be unfairly excluded in the provision of health care,” Wilson said.
She added that in light of the Constitution, people were being denied reasonable access to life saving surgeries and denial of quality of life in the case of critical surgeries.
“Millions have been spent on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, with failed pilot projects, public hearings and the appointment of staff for the NHI, to the tune of R30 million. This money could have been used to upgrade facilities with staff and infrastructure to avoid this crisis,” Wilson said.
The Star