DEAR Editor,-
THE more the province’s oncology crisis deepens, the better KwaZulu-Natal’s Health Department seems to become at mastering the art of deception.
First MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and his department blocked the Democratic Alliance from doing what any MPLs should be doing – conducting oversight visits to government facilities to see whether things are working. This only confirms our suspicion that they have much to hide.
Then there is the MEC’s spokesperson’s denials regarding the fact that there are only two urologists in the province – yet another example of the ongoing trend of misinformation and obfuscation which has become the order of the day as MEC Dhlomo presides over one crisis after another.
The truth is, if it’s not oncology, it’s urology. And if it’s not urology then it’s nephrology. With only four nephrologists (kidney specialists) in the entire province, services such as dialysis for patients with kidney failure are only going to get worse.
And so the DA’s questions that remain unanswered by the premier are – Why is this MEC still in office despite being found guilty by the SAHRC of violating the rights of cancer patients? And why are KwaZulu-Natal’s people not being put first?
The premier must answer for this. Enough is enough.
DR IMRAN KEEKA, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Health
