The Democratic Alliance (DA) has appealed to the Northern Cape Department of Health to urgently settle its account with the Umsobomvu municipality to prevent further electricity disruptions after the Manne Dipico Hospital in Colesberg experienced a three-day disconnection, from Monday to Wednesday, to compel the department to address outstanding debt totaling R925 000.
The Fritz Visser hospital in Noupoort, with owes R425 000, is next in line for disconnection.
The health department’s tardy debt management risked the lives of patients and the dignity of the deceased at Manne Dipico hospital. While the generator was able to keep the Intensive Care Unit, the kitchen and the general fridges running, it is a back-up system, not intended for uninterrupted, long-term use. Its continuous use posed a threat to patients on life-support, risked disruption of the medicine cold-chain and jeopardized food supply and preparation for patients. It also cost the hospital a fortune on diesel.
The DA’s early intervention, and agreements reached with private undertakers, ensured that a mitigation strategy was in place, should the need for mortuary services arise.
Aside from the impact of the delayed payments on healthcare, they also gave rise to greater risk for the entire Umsobomvu community by compromising the municipality’s ability to meet its financial obligations to Eskom, with payment due on Friday.
Fawzia Rhoda, Constituency Head of Bo-Karoo, will request the Health Department to urgently intervene and prevent a repeat disconnection at Fritz Visser hospital in Noupoort. We will also request them to interrogate the delayed debt repayments and to investigate reports that it took the district manager 18 months to negotiate a payment agreement with Umsobomvu for the Manne Dipico Hospital.
Hospitals should not be disempowered to save lives because of financial mismanagement.