The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Northern Cape Department of Health to focus on delivery rather than announcing new plans while longstanding healthcare challenges remain unresolved.
While the Department’s vision of “a long and healthy life for all people in the Northern Cape” is commendable, the reality facing many residents tells a different story. Communities continue to experience ambulance delays, growing surgical backlogs, medicine shortages, and severe staff shortages across healthcare facilities.
Five years ago, government introduced a Ten-Point Health Recovery Plan and promised meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery. Today, many of the same problems remain. Before announcing another Ten-Point Plan, government must explain what happened to the first one and why so many commitments have not been fulfilled.
I remain deeply concerned about the state of emergency medical services, the lengthy waiting periods for surgeries, vacant healthcare posts, and shortages of essential medication. These failures affect all residents but place the greatest burden on poor and rural communities that depend entirely on public healthcare services.
Healthcare should be judged by the experiences of patients, not by promises, plans, or policy documents. Every rand allocated to healthcare must result in measurable improvements, including more ambulances on the road, reduced waiting lists, fully staffed facilities, reliable medicine availability, and quality healthcare services closer to communities.
The people of the Northern Cape do not need another plan. They need action. They need results. Most importantly, they need a healthcare system that works.
The people of the Northern Cape cannot be treated with promises. They need treatment, they need care, and above all, they need a health system that delivers dignity and quality healthcare to every resident.