Department to use private hospitals to treat overflow patients
JHB - Private hospitals could be used to treat overflow from government hospitals.
The Gauteng Department of Health is yet to engage with different stakeholders in order to establish a solid Public/Private Partnership (PPP).
This after the MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu announced the use of private hospitals to treat the overflow patients from public hospitals.
According to the department this partnership would greatly assist in terms of addressing the challenges of bed shortages in the province and would allow sharing of resources between private and public sectors.
“Once we have had discussions with different stakeholders we will make an announcement on how this partnership will work and when it will start,” explained Department spokesperson Steve Mabona.
He said referral to a private hospital will be based on an individual patient assessment and it would happen when the department is satisfied that such service cannot be rendered by any of the public hospitals.
“The aim is to alleviate pressure on public sector facilities. Not much will change in terms of service delivery as patients would still present at our public facilitates as is the case currently,” emphasised Mabona.
He concluded that there would be no additional fees charged as the result of this arrangement.
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom welcomed the idea, provided it was done through proper negotiation rather than coercion.
“It makes sense for government to pay to use spare beds in private hospitals. Private Doctors can also be contracted to cut down the serious surgery backlogs so that patients don’t wait years for certain operations,” he said.
Bloom further explained that the Department’s lack of skills and flexibility to partner in a mutually beneficial way with the private health sector, could be a stumbling block.
“Payment concerns are a major reason for this failure. The solution is greater efficiency in spending the R34.2 billion annual health budget, and cooperating fruitfully with the private health sector to provide a better service to the public,” he concluded.
Local Netcare Olivedale Hospital and Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital are yet to comment if the partnership would work.
Details: Gauteng Department of Health 011 355 3469; Jack Bloom 082 333 4222.
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