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The National Department of Health says there is not enough money to fund 24-hour operations at state clinics and primary health care facilities.
Gallo Images / Darren Stewart
- The National Department of Health says that most primary health care clinics and facilities are unable to operate 24 hours a day due to financial constraints, staff shortages and security.
- The national health amendment bill, introduced as a private member bill by EFF MP Dr. Sophie Suzan Thembekwayo, proposes that government clinics operate 24 hours a day.
- The department said that as resources become available, more clinics will be able to conduct 24-hour operations.
Financial pressure on the country’s treasury, personnel shortages and security problems.
These were just a few of the reasons given by the National Department of Health why most state clinics and primary health care facilities cannot operate 24 hours a day.
Officials presented their comments on the National Healthcare Amendment Bill during a briefing by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tuesday.
The bill, introduced as a private member bill by EFF Rep. Dr. Sophie Suzan Thembekwayo, proposes that government clinics operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Ramphele Morewane, chief director of district health systems at the National Department of Health, said that given the country’s current financial strain, it would have a difficult time adjusting the current budget in the face of the health requirements of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is necessary to ensure financing for the implementation of the legislation. The financing of the bill is very important; the government’s budget cycle determines the strategic objectives and the annual performance plan to achieve the goal of the current government. The law in its current form will have massive financial implications for the department and the ministry, “he said.
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Morewane said the legislation is likely not the best fit to ensure that clinics operate 24 hours a day.
“Currently there are clinics that operate 24 hours, but there was no legislation before they could operate 24 hours. Therefore, it may not be necessary to legislate for the clinic to operate 24 hours. The impact assessment system Socioeconomic (SEIAS) would have helped the proponent to use an alternative method to increase the number of clinics operating for 24 hours. This bill has not been subject to this SEIAS process, “Morewane said.
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He said that as resources become available, more clinics will be able to conduct 24-hour operations.
“The data on how many health facilities are open 24 hours a day and how many do not operate 24 hours a day are critical to determining the exact costs of HRH staff, medical equipment, administration staff and security required. The introduction of 24-hour services It requires data related to human resources and other necessary for the implementation of the 24-hour in the health establishment, and the uncertainty of the financing of the expanded services, ”he said.
Some clinics, Morewane said, do not have the capacity to handle emergencies after hours.
‘Sideline’
“The facilities cannot operate around the clock due to a shortage of human resources, coupled with the lack of additional space for extended hours of services. Some of the nurses have been threatened or attacked while working extended hours. This has led to to staff being afraid to work after normal hours, “he added.
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The EFF deputy, Naledi Chirwa, said: “The clinics and hospitals that he presumes, which count as operational 24 hours do not have the capacity. If the problem is the infrastructure, strengthen the infrastructure. If it is the human resource, you build resources, you don’t just put them aside. Of course there will be challenges. “
DA MP Evelyn Wilson said that while most of the clinics were dysfunctional, the National Health Insurance would not be successful.
“What we are seeing here is a pipe dream. From the beginning we must not mislead the public, who are expecting new and operational clinics. If we do not have operational clinics, let alone 24 hour clinics, how do we implement the NHI?” She said.
Currently, 125 clinics operate 24 hours a day in the Eastern Cape, 35 in Gauteng, 90 in KwaZulu-Natal and 11 in the Western Cape.
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