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The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape is calling on Health Minister, Dr Joe Paahla, to intervene in the province to address critical surgical backlogs.
This was after the Provincial Health Department, acknowledged that an elderly patient in East London has been waiting on the orthopaedic waiting list at Frere Hospital for six years for surgery.
In reply to questions from the DA, Health MEC, Nomakosazana Meth, also revealed that there is nearly a 10-year waiting list for arthroplasty, a surgical procedure to restore the function of a joint.
The MEC said the shortage of orthopaedic theatres was identified seven years ago, but could not be addressed due to a funding shortfall.
She said the Department was working with the Districts to develop "province-wide district capability to provide surgeries, including orthopaedic surgeries.
"This requires the selected district hospitals to have the adequate anaesthetic capability," MEC Meth said.
DA Shadow MEC for Health, Jane Cowley said last week it was revealed that Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha had informed orthopaedic patients that there is no surgical equipment or implants which are required for surgeries.
"This is because the factually bankrupt Department has not paid outstanding debts to suppliers who now simply refuse to continue supplying the department with surgical equipment and implants," she said.
"This is completely unacceptable. I have now written to the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Paahla, and the Health Ombudsman to urgently intervene and address the province's critical surgery backlog," Cowley added.
