Complaints about shortage of ambulances and medicine at Phola Park clinic in Paarl will form part of the complaints Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela will bring to the attention of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature during their meeting in Cape Town this afternoon.
These were some of the complaints registered with the Public Protector during her recent visit to Paarl and Cape Town. Others included allegations of ill-treatment of patients by staff, long waiting queues, shortage of drugs and in some instances, racism. There were also complaints about general service delivery in the province.
The visits were part of her office’s National Stakeholder Dialogue which aims to strengthen government’s ability to deliver on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with specific focus on improving health and reducing hunger and poverty.
During her two-day stay in the province, the Public Protector met with various stakeholders, including members of provincial legislatures, government, traditional authorities, civil society, political parties, organised women groupings and the general public. She also conducted unannounced visits at healthcare facilities in Paarl and Cape Town.
The visits were done in conjunction with representatives from the national and provincial Health Departments. The Public Protector recognises an excellent job done by the Department of Health and the public hearings seeked to reinforce that work by focusing on trends in maladministration, which have resulted in three systemic investigations the Public Protector, is currently conducting on infant mortality, procurement and other health-related complaints.
The meeting with the Legislature will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 12 September 2013
Venue: Council Chamber, Cape Town
Time: 17h40
For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi (Ms)
Spokesperson: Public Protector South Africa
Tel: 012 366 7153
Cell: 079 507 0399
E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org
