Pretoria - Tshwane district clinics have been the worst hit by generator failures owing to a shortage of diesel during load shedding, compared to other healthcare facilities in Gauteng this year.
This was made known by the acting Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in response to questions posed by DA MPL Jack Bloom in the legislature.
The district was recorded as the hardest hit by fuel shortages, with its clinics running out of diesel 98 times.
Tshwane’s situation was found to be the worst as compared to Johannesburg district, with generators in clinics that ran out of diesel 52 times.
On the other hand, in the Vaal area there were 15 incidents of diesel shortage, while Ekurhuleni clinics experienced the problem five times.
loomB was told that Gauteng’s public hospitals and clinics combined suffered 181 generator failures because they ran out of diesel during load shedding, and that they spent R42.5 million in total to run their generators.
The millions spent on diesel for generators so far this year was almost double the amount for the same period last year.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the increase in cost was due to the “increase in cost estimates from various contributing factors such as inflation, price adjustment as per contract signed off with National Treasury, rate of consumption due to load shedding and other variables”.
Tembisa Hospital ran out of diesel six times this year, Sebokeng Hospital had two such incidents, and the Far East Rand, Bronkhorstspruit and Heidelberg hospitals each had a single incident of fuel shortage.
Explaining reasons for the diesel shortages, Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “The National Treasury contract has resulted in a number of suppliers awarded the tender per province.
“The inability of the main contractor has led to other substitutes appointed to assist in the supply of diesel. The issue of load shedding increased demand, which directly impacted on the appointed contractor’s ability to supply large quantities and on time.”
Bloom said: “I am alarmed by the frightening number of generator failures due to fuel shortages as they disrupt health services and put lives in danger. There should never be a diesel shortage as it is a readily available product.”
He said hospital and clinic managers should always monitor their diesel supplies closely and ensure they have enough to run during power failures.
“As load shedding and other power outages continue, it is vital that generators in hospitals and clinics are properly maintained and always have sufficient diesel stock,” he said.
Pretoria News