No missing patients from Life Esidimeni
The Gauteng Department of Health wishes to put it on record that it has not abdicated its responsibility towards patients that were moved from Life Esidimeni when the contract was terminated in June 2016.
All the NGOs are funded by the government for general upkeep of the patients and medical care which includes psychiatry and psychological treatment, procurement of medicine and other consumables.
It should be noted that there are no missing patients from the Life Esidimeni, however, those that cannot be accounted for at NGOs and Gauteng psychiatric hospitals were taken home by their families.
The decision to terminate Life Esidimeni contract was not taken lightly. Prior to moving patients the Department together with patient’s relatives visited the NGOs to certify that they were suitable for upkeep of mental patients.
Most of these facilities proved capable of providing inpatient care, treatment and rehabilitation for people with chronic psychiatric disorders, and severe intellectual disability. We continue to visit all facilities and NGOs to monitor the process.
“The budget allocation which was spent on the institution is now being reprioritised and will ensure that we employ more employees at our psychiatric wards in our hospitals. During 2014/15 financial year the Department spent about R323 million on Life Esidimeni. It is important to note that the Department cannot afford this, which was likely to escalate yearly,” said MEC Qedani Mahlangu.
“Furthermore, the contract termination is in line with the Mental Health Care Act no 17 of 2002, which encourages mental health care practitioners to treat mental health care users in the least restrictive environment, as reflected in Chapter two subsection 6(8)(1)(2): Persons providing care treatment and rehabilitation service must provide such services in a manner that facilitates community care of mental health care users, human dignity and privacy of every mental health care user must be respected, every mental health care user to develop to full potential and be integrated to the community,” reiterated Mahlangu.
The department also absorbed employees of Life Esidimeni in order to ensure that they do not lose their jobs while benefiting from their skills in taking care of mental care users.
The department continues to engage families who have decided to take their relatives home while they cannot take care of them, with aim to encourage a release of those patients in our care. We will also make sure that all those that stay far from facilities are assisted with transport when they wish to visit their relatives in NGOs or at our psychiatric hospitals.
We wish to express our sincere apology for any inconvenience this process might have caused to families and encourage them to interact with the department directly for immediate intervention.
For more information please contact:
Steve Mabona
Cell: 072 574 3860
For media enquiries, please use the address: mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
