Page 172 - Provincial Treasury Estimates.pdf

Department: +HDOWK
that the Bill of Rights of the child with cerebral palsy is protected whilst also protecting the Bill of Rights of

all other citizens that depend on the public sector for healthcare.

Infrastructure

The mega investments in Alfred Nzo Districts of Sipetu Hospital, Meje CHC and Khutsong Hospitals have
reached practical completion and the Department is currently preparing to move staff and patients into the

new units. There is notable progress in various projects in the districts.

2.2 Key challenges

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Department has experienced instability in the provision of Emergency Medical Services due to

disruptive labour unrest at Amathole District and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The Department
has consistently conducted intensive engagements with affected unions to find solutions to the matters in
dispute which include delays in overtime payment.

The EMS experienced violent incidents of attacks to EMS vehicles by community members in the Nelson

Mandela Metro. The Department has through cluster system of government established relations with
crime prevention cluster to combat crime against Emergency Medical Services. There has been increased

number of prank calls which results to wastage of limited resources. The EMS vehicles get broken-down
frequently due to poor roads infrastructure. The broken-down vehicles stay longer at vehicle repair
merchants which results to limited number of operational vehicles to attend to calls.

Network connectivity and copper cable theft have been reported in various parts of the province which

makes it difficult for the communities to access emergency medical services. The department continues
to engage with telephony service providers to improve network connectivity and also assist with diversion

of calls to a stable phone line elsewhere in the province as may be required.

Infrastructure and IT infrastructure

Connectivity in the PHC facilities is weak with frequent downtimes and affect the timeliness and submission
of data to the next level negatively. Improving connectivity to all health facilities is key in driving efficiencies
within the department, the aim is to create a digitised organisation that will help standardise business

processes and produce consistent information while reducing the cost of providing a world-class patient
care.

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