Free State Health takes R176m from clusters for MEC injunctions

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Free State Health Department is doing everything in its power to remain the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

Following our story which reported how the department procured 10108 blankets at R500 each, there is more.

Fikizolo fingers MEC of Health in recruitment halting

Step UP SA News has reliably learned that the department has taken R45 million from its budget to COGTA to help the ailing Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

With a budget of R12.759 aimed at improving and building health facilities and administration, the department has decided to take R176 million from clusters for MEC injunctions/interventions much to the outcry of staff.

According to sources, these are some of the injunctions:

• 1 ambulance per ward
• Garden services at hospitals
• Digitalisation of patient files

Among services that will be affected by these injunctions are minor assets costing less than R5000 as that budget will be moved.

Wholesale changes at the Free State Department of Health as a former DA member is set to join the department as HoD

A source from NEHAWU who spoke on condition of anonymity said this is a pure capture.

“It’s sad that within 5 months after MaTsiu left this department is being dismantled, this is a pure capture, and by the time we get to new administration the budget, positions, and infrastructure will be in the hands of those who want to be it beyond elections should they not come back.

Just last month only two out of thirty-two hospitals got certificates from the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSH) and instead of efforts being put to improve compliance on thirty others we are pushed out for no reason.”

Another source said the MEC in her budget vote spoke about the construction of clinics but now, it’s all MEC injunctions.

“We are going nowhere slowly, what happened to clinics that MEC said they will be built because the budget is now shifted to MEC injunctions?

The department is now prioritizing garden services and 1 ambulance per ward when currently, our ambulances don’t have drivers, who are going to drive these new ambulances?”

In other news, another pharmacist Tumi Molingoana, head of the medical depot is facing the chop as there are plans to oust her.
Sources with intimate knowledge say the depot transport medication and there is a lot of business in that space which those in power are eyeing.

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