Embattled KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo has met the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which two weeks ago fingered him as being responsible for the collapse of the province's oncology services.
“The SA Human Rights Commission can confirm that the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has met with the SAHRC to discuss findings on the provision of cancer treatment at Addington Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALC Hospital) in KwaZulu-Natal,” said the commission yesterday.
“Dr Dhlomo has committed to providing a detailed response to the commission's report by Friday. The commission will assess the response upon receipt and make a determination as to further action.”
Dhlomo and his department were singled out in the SAHRC report as having “violated the rights of oncology patients at the Addington and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central hospitals to have access to health care services, as a result of their failure to apply with applicable norms and standards set out in legislation and policies”.
The report came in the wake of revelations that Durban's public oncology services had been stripped of practitioners, with doctors leaving for the private sector because of unsatisfactory working conditions that included lack of working equipment.
Last week, KZN Premier Willies Mchunu announced in the legislature that the provincial treasury had taken over administration and procurement at the provincial health department.
“Provincial treasury will be making a Section 18 intervention in terms of the Public Finance Management Act to temporarily control the supply chain management function in the (provincial health) department until such time as the necessary financial management controls are in place,” said Mchunu.