The fire that ravaged one of the hospital's wards led to the evacuation of 83 patients, who were safely relocated to various other medical facilities within the Mangaung Metro area in July last year. 

There were no reported fatalities or injuries from the blaze, but the aftermath has left a long-lasting impact on healthcare delivery and staff operations in the Free State. The closure of the National District Hospital has caused a significant influx of patients to Pelonomi Hospital, which was already operating under strain.

According to Masechaba Sesing, the Free State Head of the Department of Health, this situation has created a significant burden on the hospital. Speaking at the Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts and Finance (PROPAC) meeting at the Fourth Raadsaal, Sesing explained that the increased patient load is affecting both healthcare workers and the patients themselves.

“The closure of National is providing immense pressure on Pelonomi because most of those patients now go to Pelonomi. It affects them badly because they move from the neighborhood that they are close to. It also affects the workers who now have to move from the area that they have applied and go to the other area,” Sesing remarked.

The shift of patients from their local healthcare center to a more distant one, coupled with the strain on hospital staff who are forced to manage additional duties, has exacerbated an already difficult situation.

While the Free State Health Department has set its sights on completing the reconstruction of the National District Hospital in the 2025/26 financial year, the road to recovery seems long. Sesing noted that the department is working on several major projects to alleviate the pressure on Pelonomi. 

These include an extension to Pelonomi’s maternity ward and the long-awaited reopening of the government mortuary, which has also been closed, further straining hospital services. To address these issues, the department has allocated over R500 million to construction projects and servicing facilities across the province. 

However, Sesing acknowledged that financial constraints and resource allocation issues are complicating efforts. She said a significant portion of the allocated funds is being diverted toward day-to-day operations, given the shortage of skilled artisans in the sector. 

Many of these workers, who are essential for maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, have retired, and the department has struggled to fill these vacancies.

This shortage of non-clinical staff, compounded by a focus on filling clinical positions, has led to the deterioration of various health facilities across the province. Sesing highlighted that this lack of immediate attention to maintenance has contributed to the dilapidation of many healthcare facilities, putting additional pressure on the system as a whole.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh