DoH looking to import oncologists to deal with oncology crisis
The importing of oncologists is part of continued efforts to solve the Oncology crisis in KZN
THE Department of Health in KZN is working on importing oncologists from Cuba and India as part of continued efforts to solve the oncology crisis in the province.
This was revealed by MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo at the Provincial Consultative Health Forum in Pietermaritzburg, as one of the plans recently presented to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), to remedy the shortage of oncologists in the province.
Dhlomo said they will also repair and monitor all health technology machines regardless of contractual disputes as well as adopt a management plan to deal with patient backlog.
The MEC further highlighted the successes of a partnership with the private sector.
‘Our Public Private Partnership with the Joint Medical Holdings group in Richards Bay has yielded results,’ he said.
Forty three patients are on chemotherapy treatment, while 64 are on radiation, 31 on the waiting list and 10 are on palliative care.
Patients are offered chemotherapy at Lower Umfolozi Hospital and then transported to the Richards Bay Medical Institute.
The interventions follow a report by the SAHRC in June, which found that the Department of Health (DoH) had failed to provide access to adequate oncology services to patients and also ‘violated rights to human dignity and life of affected patients’.
The commission investigated a number of state hospitals in the province after a complaint by Democratic Alliance KZN health spokesperson, Dr Imran Keeka, who highlighted staff shortages and a lack of functional health technology machines for screening, diagnosing and treating cancer.
The report also cited that cancer patients continue to suffer owing to the lack of CT scanners, particularly at Ngwelezana Hospital.
The hospital had previously been running a small oncology clinic, which diagnosed and referred patients to Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital or Addington Hospital for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
