Gauteng hospitals face medical waste crisis over unpaid bills
PARKTOWN – Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital is not in the firing line after major hospital medical waste supplier halts services.
A hazardous medical waste crisis has found its foothold within a number of Gauteng public hospitals after medical waste management company, Compass Medical Waste Services discontinued its supply services owing to overdue payments.
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Parktown, has, however, not been affected as a different medical waste supply company services the hospital. “[The hospital] is not affected by the medical waste crisis,” said Lungiswa Mvumvu, communications and public relations directorate at the hospital.
“In discussions with our Infection Control team, it emerged that there is a pilot project being used to utilise reusable stackable boxes, which are collected and new ones are left for use in the next week.”
DA Gauteng shadow health MEC, Jack Bloom, however, said that the crisis facing the affected Gauteng hospitals is yet another example of the Gauteng Health Department’s budget crisis that is worsening patient care. “The lack of budget has also led to community service nurses not being placed and the first-year nursing course for 700 students being delayed until the new financial year in April,” said Bloom.
“The Department needs an astounding R5 billion to pay off all its debts and keep essential health services going. The health intervention team announced last year by premier David Makhura needs to produce quick results as the situation is deteriorating rapidly in many areas.
“This is in contravention of Gauteng provincial regulations that medical waste may not be stored onsite at hospitals for longer than 30 days, with the exception of needles and scalpels and expired medicines which can be stored for [up to] 90 days.”
Related stories:
Shortage of medicine at Charlotte Maxeke
Charlotte Maxeke Hospital gifted with new hydrotherapy pool
