Department of Health welcomes the court ruling
The Limpopo Department of Health welcomes the court outcome on a matter brought by a group of people living with HIV in the Moutse area (Ephraim Mogale Municipality) to stop the department from decanting HIV patients from the Ndhlovu Care Group into public health facilities.
In an application brought before the Polokwane High Court, the Judge has indefinitely postponed the application with the following orders among others:
- That both the department and Ndhlovu Care Group sign a memorandum of understanding to regulate among others the relationship between the two including the process of transferring and decanting of patients during the period spanning from April 2018 to 30 June 2018
- The Limpopo Department of Health and Ndhlovu Care Group prepare a joint implementation plan for the transfer and the decanting of patients.
- The Department of Health should source the assistance of the Office of the Health Standards Compliance to assess the appropriateness of health facilities to which patients should be transferred and translated to
The department feels vindicated by the court outcome as it affirms the stance of the department on the issues of decanting of patients from Ndhlovu Care Group into the Public Health facilities. Once again, the department wishes to reiterate that the process will be undertaken in a manner that does not in any way jeopardize the patients. The department believes that this process will be enriched by the participation of all affected stakeholder.
Enquiries:
Neil Shikwambana
Cell: 083 444 2645
Tel: 015 293 6053
E-mail: neil.shikwambana@dhsd.limpopo.gov.za
