Telephone lines at some Gauteng hospitals have been down for several weeks, allegedly because the provincial Health Department had not paid its bills, and with staff having to use their cellphones for internal and external communications.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) said 83 clinics and 32 hospitals were affected after Telkom cut its lines due to “payment queries” lodged with the service provider.
DA spokesperson Jack Bloom said outdated switchboards were a general problem at provincial hospitals, and that the situation was a crisis, with patients and their relatives being unable to get through to hospitals for appointments, inquiries or updates.
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Kopanong Provincial Hospital, and Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital are among the affected facilities, reports News24.
"Hospital staff have to use their personal cellphones to arrange transfers or get laboratory results. Why is it so difficult for the department to pay its bills on time?” Bloom asked.
An insider at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital said phone lines had been down for at least 10 days.
The GDoH said it has “unfortunately had several discrepancies where Telkom would send invoices with descriptions of facilities that do not belong to GDoH, making it impossible to promptly settle those invoices”.
“The service provider was requested to make corrections,” said spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, adding that the department paid R4m on 19 February, and another R3.4m was due to be paid this past Monday.
“An outstanding amount is currently being verified so that it can be settled as soon as the invoices are reconciled,” he said.
In a written response to the legislature, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the debt was due to late payments and disputes over incorrect billing.
Among others, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital owes R19.3m, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital owes R15.4m, and Helen Joseph Hospital owes R10.6m.
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