Sama, MEC imbizo to discuss progress

The shortage of equipment and other issues that nearly led to a strike by doctors in the public service earlier this year, were addressed yet again at an imbizo arranged by doctors from the South African Medical Association (Sama) with Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba and members of the senior management of the department on Friday.
Seshoka Muila, Sama Provincial Secretary said the sole objective of the imbizo was to share the feedback report from the department with doctors and discuss progress made so far on issues contained in a memorandum handed to the MEC of Health during March and demanding that the department address certain matters speedily. The rationale for inviting the department, represented by Ramathuba, acting Head of Department (HOD), Peter Kgaphola and other senior management members, was to engage directly with the department to share the vision the doctors have for the healthcare system in the province. According to Muila both objectives were met, and there was a good attendance.
A doctor who has left the public service said he did so because he could not take the stress any more due to lack of equipment and patients dying as a result thereof. The department however informed doctors that procurement of equipment has already begun and there was a deadline of 6 November for delivery. The department would supply Sama with a list of equipment ordered.
There was only R70 million available for purchasing equipment, but all the money would be utilised, the doctors were informed. It was not easy to satisfy everybody with a limited budget, it was said. A basic anaesthetic machine costs more than half a million Rand and 38 hospitals and 474 primary health care clinics were vying for equipment. Some equipment might be leased from suppliers, it was stated.
Ventilators for regional hospitals
The department further reported that all regional hospitals will get at least three ventilators as well as blood gas machines. Technical committees need to be established at all hospitals to decide what equipment should be prioritised for purchasing.
Sama maintained that the Pietersburg Mankweng Complex (PMHC) hospital does not have a sufficient number of specialists to offer the necessary supervision to both the medical interns and medical officers, including registrars.
The issue of Pietersburg Provincial Hospital described as a leader in maternal deaths were ascribed to the lack of consultants. The filling of posts has received attention by the department, and feedback was given as to what has happened up to 26 July, which vacancies were filled as well as possible appointments in future.
To find sufficient supervisory staff for University of Limpopo medical students who will need clinical supervision in training hospitals is a priority, and Ramathuba stressed the importance of making the medical school work and finding suitable personnel for training and supervising students.
Hospitals may be reclassified
Hospitals may be reclassified by mid-August and the process of appointing senior clinical managers will then resume. The permanent filling of the HOD position lies in the hands of the Premier. The department was advised that specialists stay a month or two, they sometimes do not get paid, there is no equipment for them to do their work and they get discouraged and leave for other provinces. Hospitals should not be equipped on the basis of what vacancies are filled, but on what the need is, or doctors would not accept appointments at hospitals due to lack of equipment needed to do their work.
Critical shortage of surgeons
There is a critical shortage of surgeons in the public healthcare system in Limpopo and the department would look at training surgeons as a priority before training other specialists, doctors were informed.
Basic salaries and grade progression was discussed and it was resolved that many clinical managers did not do the work expected from them relating to career progression of doctors, some whom have been working for ten or more years and who were still in grade 1 posts. They should have been progressed after five years, but with written proof of performance. Accelerated career progression, based on extraordinary performance by incumbents were also discussed. According to Ramathuba progress lists were only compiled by 22 hospitals.
Overtime and the possibility of simplifying procedures were issues discussed, as well as the Auditor General’s report on overtime. Remunerative work outside the public service (RWOPS)was discussed and doctors advised by Ramathuba to see to it that committees are formed speedily at facilities to deal with the granting of permission for RWOPS.
Bursary policy
The department reported that the bursary policy is still a work in progress as well as the list of doctors who asked to specialise. Ramathuba said the services of some sessional doctors will be terminated as some sessional doctors, while drawing a large salary, did not attend to patients but only gave instructions to nursing staff telephonically. She concluded by saying that the department was underfunded, there is old and dilapidated equipment but it wanted to improve the lives of people in Limpopo.
Muila said the struggle towards quality healthcare in the province will continue.

Story and photos: NELIE ERASMUS
>>nelie.observer@gmail.com

Featured photos: Left: Seshoka Muila, Provincial Secretary of the South African Medical Association (Sama). Right: MEC for Health, Phophi Ramathuba attended the imbizo held last Thursday under the auspices of Sama to discuss progress made with health care issues in the public sector in the province.