Health department fails to meet deadline for transferring Esidimeni patients
“The process is still ongoing. We will release the figures in the next few days at a press conference.”
The Gauteng department of health has missed the deadline to remove psychiatric patients from unregistered NGOs.
On 1 February, health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba gave the department until 17 March to move the 700 patients to safer facilities.
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Deadline not met for Esidimeni patients transfer – Jack Bloom – https://t.co/PnB17XvK8O #GoogleAlerts
— Jack Bloom (@JackBloomDA) March 19, 2017
On 8 March, Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa gave an update on the transfer of patients.
She said only 63 patients had been moved from two NGOs.
She said they were experiencing a number of challenges, the main one was they could not reach some of the patients’ family members.
DA Shadow MEC for health Jack Bloom said after the 45 day period the department was supposed to release the number of patients that had already been transferred.
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“I don’t know why the department is not releasing updated figures, but it seems only about 200 patients have so far been transferred and about 500 remain in unlicensed NGOs, which is of concern,” said Bloom.
“The department needs to inform us of the latest figures of transfer and give a timetable for when all the patients will been transferred.”
It seems that 20 unlicensed NGOs are still looking after hundreds of patients! #esidimeni https://t.co/WWEvAZsnZk
— Dr Loot Gous (@lootgous) March 17, 2017
On Thursday, department of health spokesperson Vuyo Sabani said more patients were being moved to safer facilities.
“The process is still ongoing. We will release the figures in the next few days at a press conference,” said Sabani.
Over 100 psychiatric patients died last year after they were transferred from Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs across Gauteng.
The scandal led to former Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu resigning.
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Most patients died at Precious Angels NGO in Atteridgeville before it was closed down early this year.
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