DA officials angered by "ill-treatment" over hospital visit
The DA says oversight visits of hospitals at the centre of the oncology crisis are within their legal mandate as members of the Provincial Legislature and National Assembly.
DA Shadow Minister of Health, Patricia Kopane and KZN Health Spokesperson, Imran Keeka were barred from entering Addington Hospital's Oncology Unit in Durban this morning.
Kopane and Keeka were escorted out of the hospital by security.
They say permission for the visit was initially granted, but then revoked by the department.
In a statement, the health department says oversight visits by MPLs and MPs need to be arranged and organised through the Health Portfolio Committees to ensure minimal disruptions to patient privacy and patient care.
MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo says while oversight is a constitutional mandate, members of political parties know better to not just show up at a health facility.
Dhlomo says it could be highly disruptive as hospital or clinic management and staff must stop attending to patients and engage those visiting for oversight purposes.
Keeka insists the MEC has no right to stop them from conducting oversight visits.
"The constitution makes it very clear what our roles are and and how we should be performing them. The chairperson of the committee has no leg to stand by at all in giving permission, denying permission and access to facilities," he said.
Kopane says she asked MEC Dhlomo directly on what basis they were denied permission to for the visit.
"It was very clear. I asked him which pieces of the legislation or the legal prescript you are using not to give us an opportunity to come here - and he couldn't come up with anything," she said.