#CharlotteMaxeke: Cancer survival chances lessened by long waiting times
PARKTOWN – Shadow health MEC has expressed his concerns over the long waiting times the cancer patients have to endure.
Gauteng shadow health MEC, Jack Bloom, has expressed his concern over the long waiting times for treatment of cancer patients.
He said that this trend at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) was decreasing the survival chances of patients.
According to the hospital’s CEO Gladys Bogoshi, there are about 300 prostate cancer patients who will wait two years for treatment.
The waiting period for 50 breast cancer patients is between four and six months, and 150 patients for gynaecological and other cancers will wait three to four months.
“I am pleased that these figures have finally been revealed in response to a visit last week to the hospital by the SA Human Rights Commission,” Bloom said. “Earlier this year, Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa covered up these disturbing figures in response to my questions, saying merely that the waiting time for treatment ‘varies from month to month’.”
He went on to say she gave the same vague reply to his questions on cancer treatment at the Steve Biko Hospital.
The CMJH cancer unit is also struggling with only three radiation oncologists when five are needed.
Bloom said that he hoped the SA Human Rights Commission would exert pressure to ensure that cancer treatment in Gauteng is properly resourced to provide quality treatment.
Details: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital 011 355 6138
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https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/159421/shocking-waiting-times-for-surgeries/
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/152826/shortage-of-medicine-at-charlotte-maxeke-or-government-medicine-shortage-results-in-high-costs-for-patients/
