Frustrated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel in Gqeberha have warned that lives are being put at risk due to the emergency phone lines being down for six days.
Residents have been unable to reach any ambulance on the emergency number because the phone lines were disconnected on Tuesday.
This was due to the Eastern Cape Health Department's failure to pay the service provider.
Health Department spokesperson, Mkhululi Ndamase on Monday confirmed that phone lines were down across the Eastern Cape.
"The department is negotiating with the service provider and has committed to settling the debt at the beginning of the next financial year (beginning of April).
"We are hoping the lines will be back up soon."
Ndamase could not confirm the amount owed but said facilities were using cell phones until the matter had been resolved.
On Friday, the department sent a notice stating: "The ambulance call center is currently experiencing technical challenges, as a result, communities might expect to reach the EMS center with difficulties." (stet)
Three alternate landline numbers were provided as well as a cell phone number that residents could use during an emergency to send EMS a WhatsApp message.
An EMS worker who wants to remain anonymous said people in the community were dying because they could not get through to an ambulance at all.
"The situation is utterly frustrating and pathetic, to say the least.
"Our hands are tied. What are we supposed to do when nobody can reach us in an emergency?
"People are not aware of these alternate numbers. They blame us for the blunder because we arrive late or lately not at all."
The worker said he feared that this could put the lives of medics at risk because angry residents in highly charged situations do not want to hear any excuses.
He also mentioned an incident where an undertaker had travelled to the EMS headquarters with a body when he could not reach them via telephone.
Those wanting to reach an ambulance can call 041-3545404, 041-4595245, or 041-9615016.
The WhatsApp number is: 0662980024
