"The report of the National Saving the Children Committee reveals a health system that is callous, incompetent and criminally negligent. It suggests that after 14 years, the ANC should radically review its misguided health policies that have led to a public health system that is poorly managed, lacks accountability and inspires no sense of vocation or compassion."

"The IFP has repeatedly called for health ombudspersons to monitor minimum standards of care in all facilities. We have advocated a strict system of standards compliance performed by independent monitors, for hospitals and clinics. Instead we have a range of noble Charters which do nothing for accountability and efficiency. We have a trumpeting of health rights, an ideological striving after equal care and a masquerading of figures for hospitals and clinics built, as a measure of health standards." 

"The report reveals that it is not the number of facilities that is lacking, but the people who operate them. Nurses ignore their basic training; doctors operate mechanically, the most fundamental features of hospitals such as infection control, sterility and adequate emergency equipment, are lacking.

Even the medical basics of recording patients' weight, state of nutrition and HIV status are ignored. The simplest and most dramatically effective treatment of children is through oral dehydration. The shortage of Community Health Centres and absence of oral dehydration fluid and related equipment in hospitals is worse than one would expect in the most deprived third world country. That it should be allowed to prevail in South Africa is a national disgrace." 

"The IFP calls on the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) and the Nursing Council to institute an investigation into the hospitals in this survey and to expand their investigation into other rural hospitals and to hold accountable those responsible for the disastrous state of affairs in public health facilities. We also call on the newly appointed Minister to review the centralised health system, to urgently focus attention on the ailing public health services and to introduce changes that build local capacity, maximise partnerships with the private sector, and ensure all round accountability. Health funding must be simplified and help must be welcomed from all quarters, to bolster public health."  

"It is ironic that the District Health System was intended to build such efficient data bases that it would furnish information to the Minister as to who should be licensed, on the basis of need, to provide private care and what and where they could provide it.  The goal of a self sufficient public health system and restricted private system is absurd, given the current state of health care."  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr Ruth Rabinowitz M.P(MB BCh) 
IFP spokesperson on Health 

JHB: Tel: 011 802 1826  
       Fax: 011 804 4221 
C.T: Tel: 021 403 3061  
       Fax: 021 403 3334  

Cell: 082 579 3698