Alternative contact numbers activated for health facilities whose lines are currently not working
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has activated alternative contact numbers for several of its facilities whose normal Telkom lines are currently off due to payment queries lodged on the invoices submitted by the service provider.
We unfortunately have had several discrepancies where Telkom would send invoices which have descriptions of facilities that do not belong to GDoH which made it impossible to promptly settle those invoices. The service provider was requested to make corrections.
Already R4 million was paid on Monday, 19 February 2024 with another R3.4 million being released today (Monday, 26 February 2024). There is an outstanding amount that is currently being verified so that it can be settled as soon as the invoices are reconciled.
The GDoH continues to engage with Telkom to find an amicable way of attending to the disputes without impacting on service delivery, especially given that the Department has indicated that it intends to honour its commitments where invoices are not in question. Out of over 360 clinics only 83 are affected including 32 hospitals.
As part of the long-term solution, the Department is currently in the process of migrating its facilities to the Gauteng Provincial Voice Network system operated by the eGovernment Department which will drastically reduce the costs of communication within institutions and externally. Already 130 sites have been migrated to the new system.
We wish to apologise for the inconvenience that has been caused to the public who have been trying to contact various facilities. Members of the public are urged to use the contact lists published on the GDoH’s webpage using this link https://www.gauteng.gov.za/Departments/CPM-001006/Publications. The Department and individual facilities’ social media platforms can also be followed for more information.
Enquiries:
Motalatale Modiba
Cell: 064 803 0808
E-mail: healthmediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
Tshepo Shawa
Cell: 072 222 6333
E-mail: Tshepo.Shawa@gauteng.gov.za
