Luzuko Pongoma

The Mpumalanga government is to demolish old hospitals that pose a danger to patients and staff.

Premier David Mabuza said they were investing a large proportion of resources to deliver quality health care to the citizens of the province. “We are doing this to ensure that our healthcare system is able deliver quality healthcare to all, including the poor and vulnerable sectors of our society.”

Mabuza said their assessment of hospital performance indicated that there were hospitals that are so old and dilapidated that they pose a serious danger to the lives of patients they are meant to help.

“Any form of continued maintenance will constitute a serious waste of resources. We have come to the conclusion that these hospitals need to be completely demolished and reconstructed,” he said.

Mabuza said they will establish maintenance teams in all hospitals to ensure that facilities are maintained on a regular basis

“We will ensure that hospitals are supported through the acquisition of modern equipment required in the provision of quality health care. Our hospitals have to keep with modern technologies in the medical field,” he said.

Mabuza said they were at the point of no return.

“We have to act, and the time to act is now. We have to be bold and confront these challenges head-on, and inspire confidence among our people that we have the political will and commitment to change this situation around.

“We have developed a comprehensive improvement plan to respond to these urgent challenges confronting our health institutions, especially our hospitals.”

Mabuza said for them to succeed they had to do things differently and there has to be a strong sense of urgency, agility and renewed sense of commitment to deliver on these massive projects within a short space of time.

luzukop@thenewage.co.za