By: Natasha Archary
The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the the R784 million that has been allocated to address the Gauteng cancer treatment backlog.
An initiative by DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, the funds will be used for the backlog of cancer surgery and radiation oncology.
According to the DA the money is much needed as about 3000 cancer patients are waiting for treatment, including more than 1000 men with prostate cancer and almost 500 women with breast cancer.
All patients urgently need radiation therapy.
The DA commends the Gauteng Health Department for working with Section 27 and the Cancer Alliance to alleviate the cancer treatment backlogs.
“This includes the urgent outsourcing of radiation treatment for those on the existing waiting list, and the expedited procurement of new machines in the public sector to treat future patients.
Another high priority is the filling of staff vacancies. The cancer backlogs spiralled alarmingly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.”
The DA says the anxiety of cancer sufferers who are told their treatment is delayed because of staff and equipment shortages, also puts their lives at risk.
“This type of private/public partnership should also be used to sharply reduce the 36 000 patients waiting for surgery in Gauteng public hospitals.
Orthopaedics where there is a 5-year waiting time for hip and knee operations.”
The DA says a close eye will be kept on the spending to ensure it is effectively spent without corruption and inefficiency that has come to be expected with the Department of Health.
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