Pongola Hospital ‘a potential Esidimeni’
Lest we forget: Prevent Pongola Hospital from becoming another Esidimeni
THE DA in KZN has written an urgent letter to the KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo requesting an update on the Pongola Hospital licensing scandal to establish whether it is safe for the people, and to prevent tragic loss of life.
In a statement sent to the media on 20 February, DA KZN Spokesperson on Health Dr Imran Keeka stated this comes after the DA’s attempts to communicate with the KZN Health Department’s HoD failed to yield a reasonable response.
Dr Keeka said in October 2016 the MEC confirmed Pongola Hospital had been denied a license in 2014, because of gross non-compliance with Infection Control Prevention requirements.
According to the DA parliamentary questions answered by Dr Dhlomo, the facility was inspected by the Private Licensing Team on 20 June 2013, and was found to be grossly non-compliant with the said requirements.
License denied
The hospital owner, a Dr Pramchand, was provided with a temporary license on condition specific improvements were made to the hospital.
No remedial action was taken during this period; as a result the hospital was denied license renewal.
Beginning of 2016 Pramchand reportedly requested another extension to his temporary license, requesting for it to be backdated to December 2014.
The DA suspects he did this in order for him to claim from medical aid schemes which had decided to withhold payments.
In April 2016 plans for the improvement of the premises were submitted for approval by the KZN’s DoH, before building could commence.
Following this, the DA submitted further questions to the MEC to establish whether the issues at this hospital had been resolved; further reporting the matter to the office of the Director-General of Health in October.
Lest we forget Esidimeni
Keeka re-affirmed, it is precisely due to unlicensed NGO’s that 94 patients died in Esidimeni tragedy in Gauteng.
‘The same cannot be allowed to happen at an unlicensed Pongola hospital in KZN.
‘The DA demands Dhlomo corrects this shocking situation and ensure lives are not placed at risk by effectively running a ‘backyard operation’ at Pongola Hospital.
‘The MEC is accountable and must respond.
‘We expect him to publicly state whether Pongola Hospital is a safe healthcare facility for the people of this area.’
Anyone who has had either a positive or negative experience with Pongola Hospital is requested to contact Steven Makhanya at email: steven@zob.co.za, or on 076 6856589.
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