Discuss to any outpatient and the ruinous state of South Africa’s public well being system requires no debate. Nonetheless, a brand new AGSA report was not too long ago introduced to the Parliamentary Committee on Social Providers. And it’s not excellent news …
Drawing empirical knowledge from a 2024/25 audit of the Division of Well being, the report paints the image of a public well being system in freefall, reviews IOL. Worse nonetheless, the AGSA is adamant that the systemic dysfunction is costing sufferers their lives. Right here’s how dangerous South Africa’s public well being system has grow to be …
SOUTH AFRICA’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM LAID BARE
R24 billion in unpaid accruals nationwide is rolling over into the following monetary 12 months, defined the AGSA report. And just one out of 10 departments have belongings exceeding liabilities, which implies they’re not within the pink. Gauteng is the worst offender with R8 billion in accruals carrying ahead subsequent 12 months.
Furthermore, the AGSA recognized continual under-budgeting for authorized instances filed towards the general public healthcare system because of negligence, medical malpractice and poor service. All by itself, this illustrates South Africa’s public well being system is basically damaged. Foster Mohale from the Nationwide Division of Well being, says the general public well being sector has suffered constant underfunding throughout all provinces for a few years.
INEFFECTIVE NATIONAL HEALTH COUNCIL
So, who’s in charge for South Africa’s public well being system flatlining? Mohale says the onus is on the Nationwide Well being Council (NHC) to plan the place funds go. Nonetheless, the AGSA instructed parliament that one hospital within the Free State hasn’t had an working theatre for 28 years. “Well being establishments are supposed to be locations of therapeutic, hygiene and security. But, there may be an absence of ample upkeep schedules and hospitals are typically in deplorable situation,” outlined the report.
In reality, six out of 21 hospitals within the Japanese Cape, KZN, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape had no upkeep plans in any respect. Mohale careworn that healthcare proceed 24 hours a day, one year a 12 months and the calls for are all the time rising. Due to this fact, South Africa’s public well being system desperately wants aid. “We now have lobbied the Minister of Finance for added funding in 2025/26 monetary 12 months and the medium-term expenditure interval,” stated Mohale.
DIGITISE SOUTH AFRICA’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Moreover, whereas the world digitises healthcare, South Africa clings to paper. The AGSA discovered that the division largely nonetheless depends on hard-copy report books – known as ‘flash books’ – for invoicing and debt assortment. These are extremely vulnerable to error, inefficiencies and could be simply manipulated for fraud.
Lastly, amongst the doom and gloom, one province has bucked the pattern. The Western Cape’s public well being system is the one one to take care of a clear audit. As such, the AGSA’s Nelisiwe Mhlongo explains: “Provinces reaching clear audits usually have robust, institutionalised inside controls. These embody constant critiques, energetic management involvement and well timed corrective actions,” concluded Mhlongo.
What do you suppose? Is South Africa’s public well being system in disarray? Have you ever visited a public hospital not too long ago, and the way what stage of service did you obtain? Tell us within the feedback under …
