Cancer treatment, ambulance services tops KZN budget vote
The KZN Department of Health says it is looking to beef up Emergency Medical Services by adding more ambulances to the province's fleet.
MEC for Health Sibongiseni Dhlomo made the comment while delivering his budget vote for the 2017/2018 financial year in Pietermaritzburg yesterday.
Dhlomo told the Legislature that provincial Emergency Medical Services operate in all 11 Districts of the province - from 75 EMS bases. Dhlomo promised to follow up on cases where ambulances are being stripped and sold for parts.
The MEC made reference to a case in Newcastle in northern KZN where an official was allegedly selling ambulance parts to a taxi owner. The suspect appeared in court earlier this month.
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Dhlomo says the department is often blamed by communities for not getting ambulances to them on time - but brand new ambulances are being dismantled to create new taxis. He vowed to follow up on the matter and uncover all irregularities.
Dhlomo tabled Health's R39.5-billion budget yesterday. He also said his department is engaging with the private sector to improve oncology services in the province.
He says the private sector alone has more 50 oncologists in eThekwini - while the public sector has just two qualified oncologists in eThekwini and four in Umgungundlovu.
Meanwhile, the DA and the IFP both criticised MEC Dhlomo's budget - pointing out that there is not enough money in the allocation to meet the spending challenges faced by the Health Department.
The DA's Imran Keeka feels KZN communities can expect no improvements when it comes to the level of service offered by provincial health facilities.
In their responses to the budget - both parties focused on the lack of oncologists in the province. The IFP says Dhlomo's plan to approach the private sector to assist when it comes to oncology services is a waste of money.