KZN health unions not pleased with Ramaphosa’s SONA measures

A hospital examination room with an x-ray machine.

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Health unions in KwaZulu-Natal have expressed dissatisfaction with the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) regarding the delivery of healthcare to all South Africans.

In his address, President Ramaphosa highlighted that, once fully implemented, the National Health Insurance (NHI) would save many lives. However, the unions remain unconvinced by the proposed steps.

Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), both say the healthcare system as it stands in KwaZulu-Natal has collapsed.

VIDEO| In his SONA, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the NHI will see the building of new hospitals and clinics:

PSA provincial manager, Mlungisi Ndlovu, raises the issue of staff shortages at state hospitals and clinics.

“We are very disappointed as PSA because you have heard the past week that unemployed doctors were on the street. Therefore, there are no doctors in hospitals as we speak, there are no pharmacists in hospitals as we speak. The infrastructure is in bad condition, and you can go to Prince Mdhiyeni they are still using asbestos. So, as PSA in the province, we are saying the President has given this State of the Nation Address but things are very bad in our province, as we speak, in some of the hospitals based on the reports that we are receiving, there is medication and I challenge you to go some of the clinics in KZN.”

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) Provincial Chairperson, Siyanda Zungu, also raises concerns about the public healthcare system.

“There is nothing tangible that we can present. There is a NHI. The NHI is supposed to have been implemented because pilot projects had been started long ago, but it has not yet been implemented. So, we thought by this time, the President is not going to say it’s a preparatory stage but is going to tell us to set the timeframe, to say we will be doing this and that. The issue of staffing and the Department of Health is a crisis. One person is expected to work for the other four or more that are not yet employed.”