Eastern Cape Health MEC reacts to hard-hitting NGO report

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sicelo Gqobana, says his ministry will be outlining plans to tackle some of the issues raised in a report on the state of health care in the Eastern Cape by several health sector NGO's.

Speaking to Algoa FM News on Friday, MEC Gqobana says he will be joined by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, next week to unveil their response to the 17-page report, which is already in the Minister's posession.

Responding to a question, Gqobana says the NGO report's hard-hitting nature also reflects a political approach, which he said will be revealed in time.

However, MEC Gqobana says there are aspects of the report that are legitimate in nature and others that were new to him.

He says he is always ready to listen to people who want to raise issues about health care in the Eastern Cape.

"It's precisely because of involvement of our people to draw my attention in areas that I might not be aware. Even in this particular case there are aspects of their report that we have found to be legitimate and we have quickly attended to some. But others have a long-term effect that we are going to address." says Gqobana

"So, next week, together with the Minister, we shall then be outlining a plan to tackle some of the issues that they are raising. And, that report covers predominantly OR Tambo (district) which is a pilot district with a history of under-development and serious challenges of hospitals that were missionary of (sic) nature."