Department of Health fails to submit report to HRC
It is clear that the MEC and her department have done nothing to improve health care, instead they chose to ignore and disregard a Chapter 9 institution with a mandate of protecting and upholding the rights of the people
NELSPRUIT – The Department of Health seems not to be phased by the Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) ruling that it is failing in its constitutional mandate of providing quality health care to its people.
It has failed to submit a detailed report to the commission on how it plans to improve health care in the province.
The HRC made its ruling late last year after the DA had submitted a complaint and requested an investigation into the province’s public health-care system. Several reports by Lowvelder on poor service delivery at Rob Ferreira Hospital, formed part of the DA’s complaint.
The HRC consequently set a deadline of March 31, 2014, by which the MEC for health, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini was supposed to formu-late and submit the report.
According to DA spokesman for health, Mr James Masango, the MEC had said in the provincial legislature on March 11, that the department had responded.
However, when the DA enquired with the HRC to confirm this, it was informed that this was not the case.
The department had earlier indicated that it wanted to appeal the HRC’s findings, but the 45-day deadline to do so had already expired in February.
“It is clear that the MEC and her department have done nothing to improve health care, instead they chose to ignore and disregard a Chapter 9 institution with a mandate of protecting and upholding the rights of the people.
“Access to health care is guaranteed by the constitution, and a DA-led government will transform hospitals and clinics in our province into places of healing where people will receive care and quality treatment.
“By ignoring the recommendations of the HRC, Mashego-Dlamini has effectively put herself and her department above the supreme law of our country, mistakenly thinking that the department could dictate the terms of delivery.
Mr Ronnie Masilela, spokesman for the department, acknowledged receipt of Lowvelder‘s questions regarding its failure to submit the report to the HRC. He promised to respond, but didn’t.
