This is according to the MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, who is delivering her departmental budget speech for 2022/23 at the Free State Legislature this morning. Her statement comes after various reports from across the province with workers, patients, residents, and unions voicing their dissatisfaction over the state of clinics and service delivery. 

Presenting her budget speech on Tuesday, MEC Tsiu told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) that before Covid-19, the state of compliance was at 69% but since the start of the pandemic it dropped to 43%, in 2020. MEC Tsiu adds that during the current financial year, the department has seen signs of recovery, with an achievement of 54% in 2021/22.

“However, in 2021/22, the Boitumelo, Bongani and Dihlabeng Regional Hospitals, as well as the Pelonomi Tertiary and Universitas Academic Hospitals, achieved the ideal hospital status. The department is committed to ensuring our facilities regain their ideal status. This, we will achieve by making critical appointments, such as operational managers, cleaners, and pharmacy assistants. Much of our effort will also go into conducting ongoing maintenance, which have suffered partly because of funds being reprioritised in response to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she adds.

She said the initial implementation of the Ideal Hospital programme started in 2019/20, when 13% of the district hospitals achieved the ideal status, which increased to 50% in 2020/21 and declined to 44% in 2021/22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

MEC Tsiu added that the department will focus on continuous quality improvement to ensure we are National Health Insurance (NHI) ready.

In December 2021, scores of irate Bloemfontein-based, Pelonomi healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, downed tools, protesting against the management allegedly being stubborn. 

Workers accused the provincial management of flaunting the healthcare and safety protocols which they claim pose a significant threat to the workers' lives. A large group of them gathered inside the hospital to demonstrate their anger and frustration with what they describe as a failed system when it comes to addressing their grievances over the past few years. 

In 2020, OFM News reported that workers at the Bongani Hospital in Welkom embarked on a strike over transport issues, amongst others. During the protest services at the hospital came to a halt with employees protesting.

MEC Tsiu added that the department is further focusing on upgrading the laundry and kitchen services within our facilities as these are also aged and are presenting challenges.  

OFM News