EMS strike continues to cripple health services in EC

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Striking Eastern Cape emergency services employees brought the Bhisho hospital to a standstill on Monday.

Health Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, says the issues relate to the outstanding payment of human resources backlogs which has crippled EMS services across the province.

Kupelo says while the Bisho Health Department remains committed to paying the backlogs as per treasury regulations, he says the level of intimidation is a cause of concern.

"We have a serious situation in EMS because there have been reports of some workers being assaulted and people being intimidated by striking ambulance workers. There is a splinter union, not recognised in terms of the labour relations, so we are beginning to see a Marikana kind of a situation in the province," he said.

Kupelo also said that the rivalry between private ambulance services is now hotting up.

He says its alleged that a private service was called to a hospital in Queenstown only for a rival company to call, pretending to a be a nurse at the hospital, and cancelling the call-out.

Kupelo says the air ambulance service has also been grounded due to the alleged intimidation of paramedics and pilots.