248 on waiting lists for kidney dialysis in Gauteng
JOBURG – Jack Bloom, DA Shadow Health Minister argues that kidney failure should not be a death sentence.
The MEC for Health in Gauteng Qedani Mahlangu came under criticism after she disclosed in Gauteng Legislature, the state of dialysis services in Gauteng hospitals.
The MEC revealed that 712 patients are receiving dialysis for chronic kidney failure in seven Gauteng hospitals, while 248 patients are on the waiting lists.
Mahlangu was responding to the questions posed by DA Shadow Health Minister Jack Bloom.
The number of patients on the waiting lists include 28 at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg; 20 at Helen Joseph Hospital and other patients from different hospitals.
Bloom said, “It is a tragedy that the future is bleak for those on waiting lists, as many will die while they wait for treatment. It is inexcusable that 12 machines are broken as they could save many lives and avoid much suffering.”
According to Bloom 12 out of 155 dialysis machines are broken.
“Most seriously, four out of 49 machines at Helen Joseph and three out of 17 machines at George Mukhari hospital are non-functional. Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke hospitals have two broken machines each.”
Bloom added that kidney failure should not be a death sentence for many patients when more can be done to repair broken machines and perform more transplants.
Questions were sent to Steve Mabona, spokesperson for Gauteng Health Department, and he responded thus,”The Department has the capacity and equipment to provide dialysis services at all the hospitals that render this service. Once machines are condemned they are replaced with new ones. Some hospitals run night sessions and the department continues to acquire more machines. Many of these patients are treated for 6 to 8 hours a day, three times a week, depending on a patient’s condition and these are outpatients and as such they are not admitted.”
