HRC finds that Mpumalanga Health Department is failing its constitutional obligation
The HRC has now given the health department an ultimatum: to formulate and submit a detailed programme of action to address the critical skills, infrastructure and administrative challenges in the province's hospitals and clinics before March 31 next year
NELSPRUIT – The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has ruled that the Mpumalanga Health Department is indeed violating the public’s right to have access to health care services as stipulated by our Constitution.
The ruling was finally made 14 months after the DA requested the commission to investigate the lacking public health care system in the province. Lowvelder reported extensively on the dire situation at Rob Ferreira Hospital last year and the DA made use of these reports to substantiate its complaint which was submitted to the HRC.
Investigators consequently visited three hospitals – Rob Ferrreira, Matibidi and Bernice Samuels – and found that the critical shortage of doctors, nurses, other medical personnel and infrastructure had a negative impact on“government’s ability to discharge its constitutional obligation to provide health services to members of the public”.
The HRC has now given the health department an ultimatum: to formulate and submit a detailed programme of action to address the critical skills, infrastructure and administrative challenges in the province’s hospitals and clinics before March 31 next year.
