In a significant step toward transparency, the Health and Wellness Portfolio Committee hosted a public meeting at Ga-Rankuwa Community Hall where citizens witnessed the Department of Health’s presentation of its 2023/2024 Annual Report.
In a move away from traditional closed-door presentations, the recent public forum offered Gauteng residents a rare, transparent view into the provincial health department’s operations, financial management, and service delivery achievements. The open forum allowed attendees to hear directly from officials, fostering engagement and accountability.
Among key findings, the department’s portfolio committee flagged significant challenges in human resource planning, specifically in oncology services.
The committee reported that the current workforce strategy is outdated and insufficient to meet the increasing demands of Gauteng’s growing population, signaling the need for urgent updates to ensure quality care in the province.
“This mismatch has put significant pressure on healthcare professionals, with unfavourable staff-to-patient ratios affecting service delivery,”
“ In addition there is a critical shortage of oncology, radiology, and other specialized healthcare workers, compounded by the private sector’s ability to offer more competitive compensation for these sought-after skills,” said The Health and Wellness Portfolio Committee.
The committee further said that The Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) in the health sector, a national competency, directly impacts the retention of scarce skills in public healthcare.
“This impact was clearly illustrated at one of the hospitals where one of the major contributions to the backlog was owed to the shortage of specialised nurses in the operating theatres and Intensive Care Units , These nurses play a crucial role in the value chain of cancer treatment and care,”
The Committee urges the Department of Health to fast-track the approval and implementation of revised staffing plans, already proposed by hospitals, to address these shortages.
“While the Committee recognises the budget constraints caused by austerity measures, addressing the critical need for specialised personnel must remain a top priority to meet growing healthcare demands.” The Health and Wellness Portfolio Committee added.
