The Department of Health says healthcare services across the nation have reported strained budgets, with 12-month provides of diesel and oil for mills already exhausted as a result of frequency of load shedding.
Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla instructed the media on Friday that the division approached National Treasury for monetary help, explaining that hospitals couldn’t predict or keep away from the extreme impression of upper levels of load shedding.
He says persistent energy outages haven’t solely affected entry to healthcare but additionally contribute to some essential medical equipment and tools having a lowered lifespan.
“The department is engaging the National Treasury to discuss the additional budget implications to sustain the load shedding contingency plans, including unbudgeted increase in diesel and oil expenditure to run the generators and maintenance costs,” Phaahla provides.
This comes after the minister introduced that 37 hospitals have been exempt from load shedding following discussions with Eskom, provincial heads of departments and municipalities.
The well being services exempt from load shedding are:
- Gauteng: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, George Mukhari Hospital, Pretoria West Hospital, Tshwane District Hospital, Mamelodi Hospital, Bronkhorstspruit Hospital and Kalafong Hospital
- Free State: Pelonomi Private Hospital
- KwaZulu Natal: Harry Gwala Hospital, Greys Hospital, Ladysmith Hospital, Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, RK Khan Hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, McCords Hospital, King Dinuzulu Hospital, Mandela Children’s Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Osindisweni Hospital, St Aidans Hospital, Addington Hospital and Clairwood Hospital
- Limpopo: Mankweng Hospital, Lebowakgomo Hospital, Dilokong Hospital and Maklenburg Hospital
- Eastern Cape: Frere Hospital, Elliot Hospital, Livingstone Hospital, Port Elizabeth Hospital and Uitenhage Hospital
- Western Cape: Tygerberg Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital, Red Cross Hospital
Phaahla says three hospital names have been submitted for the Northern Cape and continues to be ready for a response on Witbank and Rob Ferreira hospitals in Mpumalanga.
He says engagements between the division, Eskom and municipalities have resulted in an settlement that provincial departments will submit consolidated lists of services indicating their location to help within the dedication on the workable standards of exemption.
“The criteria for hospital exclusion include patients’ volume, nature of specialised services they provide and technological and medical equipment they have,” he provides.
“The exclusions or exemptions do not mean the facilities should use electricity without limitations. We have made it clear to Eskom that we have joined their call to ensure that even our health facilities use electricity sparingly, productively, and purposefully at all times.”
Phaahla says the division can be contemplating a phased strategy to investing in renewable power by solar energy set up at well being services as a part of the power combine consisting of energy from the nationwide grid, uninterrupted energy provide (UPS) and lithium batteries.
“Load shedding compels us that in future, when we construct new facilities, we must revise our plans and costs to include new sources of energy, renewables, over and above generators.”
“In addition, we must ensure the installation of the dedicated feeder line to avoid the current exercise of reconfiguring the electricity networks.”
Phaahla says the division will proceed to work to mitigate towards the dangers of load shedding on healthcare services and is seeking to safe extra services for exemption.
Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.
