Question NW2098 to the Minister of Health
19 June 2023 - NW2098
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Following the reported crisis of food shortages at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital earlier in the month, what intervention measures were implemented to date to resolve the crisis other than the visit by the Member of the Executive Council of Health for Gauteng to the specified hospital; (2) how is his department monitoring the day-to-day status of the hospital and other hospitals facing similar concerns; (3) what (a) total number of other hospitals have reported similar concerns over food shortages and (b) are the names of such hospitals; (4) what (a) was the initial cause of the food shortage crisis at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and (b) is the long-term solution of his department to avoid the specified situation from occurring again in future?
Reply:
1. Key intervention to ensure continuity of protein supply was to substitute meat with beans which is also a source of protein.
(2) (a) Only one hospital reported food shortages.
(b) Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
3.(a) The initial cause was the supplier is contracted to supply a number of hospitals in Johannesburg South with the inclusion of Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospital and one of the facilities failed to make a payment on time and the supplier stopped food supply in all facilities, including those whose contractual obligations were met.
(b) A long term solution would be to have more suppliers who are having a mix of items on contract, rather than depending on one supplier for most items. Moreover to construct a cold-room to keep buffer stock for reserves rather than daily deliveries.
END.