By OBAKENG MAJE
The surgery backlog crisis in the North West Department of Health has worsened, says the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards. According to Edwards, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha revealed that, his department is facing a mounting surgery backlog crisis with 9 111 patients on the waiting list to undergo elective surgery in regional and tertiary hospitals throughout the province.
“The ophthalmic surgery case backlog showed the highest increase in North West by 312% from 911 cases recorded during the 2018/19 financial year to 3 756 cases in 2022/23. Orthopaedic surgeries increased by 61% from 1 304 cases to 2894 in 2022/23, and the case backlog for general surgery increased by 57% from 334 cases to 524 cases.
“While the department confirms the significant waiting list for various elective surgical procedures, it indicated that the surgery backlog across all disciplines is set to increase due to a rise in the average life expectancy of patients,” he said.
Edwards further said this is indicative of a department that is unable to deliver quality medical services due to an increase in demand. He added that, clearly the department knows what contributes to the rise in the surgery backlog, but has no intention to respond effectively to reduce extended waiting lists.
“We will write to Sambatha, requesting that he urgently table an implementable action plan to reduce the provincial surgery backlog in North West. We will also propose actionable interventions that will assist in reducing the backlog.
“These include the recruitment and appointment of qualified medical professionals and specialists and the introduction of surgery marathons. The department should also prioritise renovations and repairs to operating theatres currently closed and consider the reopening and recommissioning of unused theatres in community health centres, clinics, and hospitals,” said Edwards.
In addition, he said they will also write to the North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, requesting that the current backlog of surgical cases be declared a provincial Medical Emergency so that additional funding could be released under Section 25 of the Provincial Financial Management Act (PFMA) to reduce the current backlog.
Edwards said DA governed Western Cape’s Department of Health launched a Surgical Recovery project at Groote Schuur Hospital last year and it slashed its surgery backlog by 1500 elective surgeries – two months ahead of schedule.
“A similar project was successfully launched at the Karl Bremer Hospital. Where the DA governs, we prioritise the health of patients, and we can do the same in North West if residents vote DA in next year’s election,” he said.
*Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane failed to respond to the media inquiry, despite being sent to him four weeks ago.
The Guardian 