Question NW200 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

Infrastructure and capacity to treat adults with cancer are variable throughout the country and thus Gauteng Province has the additional responsibility of rendering oncology services to its neighbouring Provinces. However, comprehensive oncology services in the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) are currently only rendered by Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) and Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH). This places a huge burden on service delivery for these two centres which according to the 2020 National Cancer Register (NCR) of South Africa are estimated to ensure that the 23 634 new people with cancer in the public health facilities in Gauteng Province are treated. With only two Central Hospitals rendering a comprehensive oncology service, long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment leads to disease progression and poorer cancer related outcomes. Lack of infrastructure and lack of human resources are also additional contributory factors to the extreme waiting times. The Department is thus outsourcing radiation oncology services to reduce the current radiotherapy waiting times at both CMAJH and SBAH.

END.