Question NW2911 to the Minister of Health
21 October 2015 - NW2911
Filtane, Mr ML to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, with reference to the public hospital in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, which is experiencing a shortage of doctors (details furnished) whilst servicing areas like Butterworth, Centane and Idutywa which constitute a large population, his department intends to (a) increase the supply of doctors to this public health facility, (b) improve the conditions of the basic necessities for the functionality of a public health facility, including the oxygen cylinders which are in many instances empty, the non-availability of drinking and washing water as well as repairing non-functioning toilets and (c) interact with the relevant authority to improve the access road to the hospital as it is full of potholes; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details, in each case?
Reply:
a) Yes Honourable Member, we are trying our best to increase the number of doctors in public health facilities, especially in rural areas. We are even trying to contract Private doctors in NHI Pilot Sites to work in public clinics.
b) Yes we are planning to do so through Operation Phakisa.
c) Yes, Operation Phakisa aims to improve total infrastructure including roads, water supply, electricity, telecommunications, etc.
END.