Uncollected medical waste piles up at Leratong Hospital because of unpaid supplier
The Department needs R5 billion to pay off all its debts and keep essential health services going.
Hazardous medical waste is building up to dangerous levels in many Gauteng state hospitals because a supplier has not been paid.
“I am aware of a number of hospitals where medical waste has not been collected since December last year,” said the DA’s Shadow Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for health, Jack Bloom.
The Kalafong, George Mukhari, Leratong and Yusuf Dadoo hospitals, among others, have been affected by the stoppage of service by Compass Medical Waste.
This is in contravention of Gauteng provincial regulations, which state that medical waste may not be stored onsite at hospitals for longer than 30 days, with the exception of sharps (needles and scalpels) and expired medicines, which can be stored for 90 days.
Read more: Shocking stats released of negligence claims against state hospitals
“It is yet another example of the Gauteng Health Department’s budget crisis that is negatively affecting patient care because unpaid suppliers are stopping deliveries and services,” said Bloom.
The lack of budget has also led to community service nurses not being placed. In addition, the first year nursing course for 700 students has been delayed until the new financial year in April.
The Department needs 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.
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