With an increasing number of oncologists leaving the public health sector, thousands of SA patients are being kept waiting for treatment, reports the Weekend Argus.
The Weekend Argus reports that the world commemorated World Cancer Day on the 4th February, but in KwaZulu-Natal, broken chemotherapy and radiotherapy machines have still not been repaired.
And, the report says, the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Memorial Hospital is down to two oncologists after six resigned in recent months. Four oncologists who left the unit have opted to go into private practice, one is leaving the country and the other was transferred to another hospital. Not one of them has been replaced since the first resignation in June.
The radiotherapy and chemotherapy machines at Addington Hospital have still not been repaired since early last year, leaving the Albert Luthuli Hospital as the only other facility in Duban. With only two doctors to see patients, the situation is dire.
The report says that during a recent visit to the Albert Luthuli’s Oncology Clinic, it was found that patients had been waiting for treatment since the early hours. Many were former patients of the Addington Hospital but had to be referred to Albert Luthuli. One oncologist who left the Albert Luthuli hospital described the pressure was “too much”.
The report says the Democratic Alliance’s Dr Imran Keeka who has been calling for answers from Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo since last year, said he was astounded by the department’s ignorance of the plight of cancer patients.
“The MEC has made curable cancer, incurable and is causing immense harm to the thousands of cancer patients in the province who deserve to receive the consultation and treatment they require to beat the disease. The department hosts events for cancer awareness but they are killing cancer patients. It’s all a sham and Dhlomo needs to go,” said Keeka.
He said that it has been several months since he laid an official complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission regarding broken chemotherapy and radiotherapy machines but the department has failed to respond to the commission to date.
According to the report, spokesperson for the KZN Department of Health Sam Mkhwanazi said employees of the department from different categories do from time to time resign for personal reasons. The department did not respond to questions regarding broken machines.
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