Gauteng health department under fire for frontline ‘payment delays’
An internal memo, issued by the Gauteng health department, informing healthcare workers of ‘payment delays’, is currently under investigation after receiving fierce criticism.
As South Africa continues to languish under the burden of lockdown, the nation’s healthcare workers have the honourable, yet unenvious, task of ensuring patient safety. Overworked under strenuous lockdown conditions, these frontline workers continue to risk their own lives in the fight against COVID-19.
Praised by government and President Cyril Ramaphosa, hospital staff are considered the country’s true heroes during a time of mass uncertainty ahead of a looming healthcare crisis.
Healthcare workers’ ‘payment delays’
And while the economic fallout from the pandemic and subsequent lockdown has resulted in widespread job losses and salary cuts, the Gauteng government’s ‘payment delay’ impacting the province’s healthcare workers has left a bitter taste in the mouths of frontline carers. The internal memo addressed to healthcare workers, confirmed, with dismay, by the MEC for health in Gauteng, Bandile Masuku, states:
“This is to inform you that due to COVID-19 lockdown our E-Gov Department has experienced some delays in the processing of some allowances; Basic salary, commuted overtime and sessional claims.
Kindly notify your creditors of this potential delay for the months of April and May 2020.”
‘It is unacceptable’ – Health MEC Masuku
Masuku confirmed that these notices had been delivered to numerous hospitals and clinics in Gauteng, including Tshwane District Health Services and Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital. Following an outcry on social media, Masuku announced:
“I was informed about this correspondence actually. Our officials are failing us and this is disappointing. We are sorting the matter out and those who liable, are going to be made to account. It is unacceptable.
I’m gutted but we are working on it to get the majority of payments processed.”
This latest hurdle impacting healthcare workers comes in the wake of a rapid rise in hospital staff infections and complaints over inadequate training and a dire lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Cuban medical team to cost SA R440 million
The controversial payment delay also coincides with the arrival of more than 200 medical professionals from Cuba, who, after completing their compulsory two-week quarantine, will be deployed to hospitals and clinics around the country.
The arrival of the Cuban team has been criticised by various organisations and unions, citing unemployment among local healthcare practitioners, particularly nurses. Adding to the controversy, in light of local payment delays, the Cuban team is expected to cost taxpayers R440 million.
No comments: