Question NW63 to the Minister of Health

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13 March 2017 - NW63

Profile picture: McLoughlin, Mr AR

McLoughlin, Mr AR to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What were the reasons for shutting down the 24-hour clinic operating in Roshnee, Ward 21, in the Emfuleni Local Municipality; (2) will the specified clinic be reopened; if not, why not; if so, (a) by what date will the clinic be reopened and (b) what facilities will be offered at the clinic when it is reopened?

Reply:

(1) Roshnee clinic is a municipality clinic under the jurisdiction of the then Vereeniging/Kopanong municipality which was amalgamated to form Emfuleni Municipality in the year 2000.

The clinic had four consulting rooms and rendered municipal health services which were provided 8 hours a day, five days a week excluding weekends. The clinic has never operated for 24 hours. The reasons for the closure of the clinic in 2004 were the low utilisation rate as the clinic headcount was less than 400 per month.

The resolution to close an underutilized health facility was adopted to improve the efficient utilisation of available resources as patients were redirected to Rustervaal clinic which was a 1 kilometer away from Roshnee. The decision was taken with the consultation of the community of Roshnee.

(2) No, there are currently no plans to reopen the Roshnee clinic as the services that were rendered by Roshnee clinic are rendered at Rustervaal clinic through a comprehensive integrated Primary Health Care Package. The infrastructure at Rustervaal clinic was upgraded and staffing levels increased over the years to accommodate the PHC Package of Services and the current headcount of 3450 patients per month. When Roshnee clinic was closed down it was handed back to the community and utilized as a center for children with disabilities. The center in its current state is designed to suit the needs of children with disabilities and no longer suitable or compliant for utilisation as a health facility.

END.

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