Despite sitting on a R17m stipendiary budget, the Eastern Cape Health Department has not paid one cent of this to hospitals’ and clinics’ board members since their appointment in October 2021.
The 762 officials are supposed to be paid for every meeting they attend, reports News24, and are crucial in the successful running of hospitals and clinics because they develop and review the facilities’ overall strategies.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda blamed “delays in the payment processes because not all relevant and required documentation has been submitted”.
While apparently several board members had resigned, citing non-payment, among other issues, Dekeda said the department was unaware of this.
The DA, which has repeatedly called for the department to be placed under administration, has accused it of being in a management crisis, with a shambolic human resources section.
The party’s Jane Cowley said she would write to Health Minister Joe Phaahla to request that he urgently conduct several unannounced oversight visits to facilities across the province.
She added that it had also failed to renew essential contracts, fill the thousands of still vacant Emergency Medical Services posts and failed to address the mental health crisis in the province.
Responding to Cowley’s statement, Dekeda told News24 that cash flow for employment costs had “been stabilised”, and that a plan to recruit workers for 2,941 posts has been approved by the Office of the Premier.
“More than 75% of the posts are clinically-related positions, and the non-medical administrative posts are to strengthen administrative support to the clinical teams,” she said.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
DA calls for Eastern Cape Health to be placed under administration
Workers want E Cape Health placed under administration
DA: New superintendent-general is qualified but Eastern Cape Health is a sinking ship