Eastern Cape Health MEC opens new facilities at EL hospital

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sicelo Gqobana, has officially opened new clinical units at East London's Frere Hospital built at a cost of R203 million.

The Coega Development Corporation has been appointed as the implementing agent by the Bhisho Health Department on several projects across the Eastern Cape, including the Frere Hospital Project.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, MEC Gqobana, says they're working hard to ensure that people of the Eastern Cape receive all the medical treatment they need in this province and do not need to go to hospitals in other provinces, particularly the Western Cape, where premier Helen Zille had labelled people from the Eastern Cape as refugees.

"We are trying to ensure that our people in the province are treated here in the province. We now have the capacity both in PE and EL. We are now on our way to Mthatha and the Nelson Mandela Academy hospital to build the same standard of the service to ensure that at least our patients are not far away from their parents and families"

Speaking to Algoa FM News, Gqobana says while they are employing staff for the new clinical units, they're also training current staff.

"I must also say that not all this stuff that is required are in place now. We are now in effort to make sure that both oncology's have sufficient staff" he added