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Crippling protests at hospitals – FF Plus requests government to take action

The countrywide strike action by healthcare personnel is causing a serious crisis as healthcare services have nearly come to a complete standstill at 49 institutions.

The FF Plus on 8 March 2023, requested the Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla, to take urgent action against striking trade unions that are seriously disrupting state and provincial hospitals countrywide.

According to information that the FF Plus received from across the country, family members had to step in and start caring for patients themselves.

In many cases, patients are left without any medical care, food or medicine, endangering their health and lives.

Ambulances are also often unable to gain access to take patients who desperately need help to save their lives to hospital.

Patients who come for routine visits are intimidated and threatened, and have no choice but to return home without having received any treatment.

The FF Plus requested Phaahla to approach the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to ensure that the public has access to medical treatment.

Decisive action must be taken against any striking healthcare worker who endangers patients’ lives.

The Department of Public Service and Administration does not want to meet Nehawu’s demand for increases of between 10% and 12%, and is sticking to 4,7%.

It is, however, causing serious problems for other departments, like Health.

Government is to blame for this crisis given the terrible conditions under which healthcare workers must work on a daily basis with very little resources at their disposal.

Their current conduct and endangering of patients’ lives must, however, not be tolerated.

Read the original article in Afrikaans by Philip van Staden on FF Plus

The post Crippling protests at hospitals – FF Plus requests government to take action appeared first on South Africa Today.