The National Portfolio Committee on Health has raised concerns over the state of healthcare services in KwaZulu-Natal, following numerous complaints from residents about poor service delivery, staff attitudes, and medicine shortages.
Committee members are currently conducting oversight visits at various healthcare facilities in the province to assess conditions firsthand. One of their stops was Gamalakhe, near Port Shepstone, where frustrated residents reported spending entire days in long queues, only to be turned away without receiving medical attention. Others alleged mistreatment by certain healthcare workers.
Committee Chairperson Dr. Sbongiseni Dhlomo acknowledged the grievances, saying, “Some members of the public have written to us about staff attitudes, medicine shortages, and other challenges. We are here to get direct responses and assess the situation ourselves.”
Beyond hospitals and clinics, the committee is also set to inspect forensic pathology services in Park Rynie and Phoenix. Dr. Dhlomo highlighted the ongoing issue of unclaimed bodies, noting that over a thousand remain in these mortuaries, adding further strain to the province’s healthcare infrastructure.
The oversight visits aim to provide urgent solutions and ensure that healthcare facilities in KZN improve their service delivery to meet public needs.