Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by David Masoeu MPL and Afrikaans soundbite by Roy Jankielsohn MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned about the Free State Department of Health’s continued failure to prioritise the resources required to keep surgical theatres functional. We call on the MEC for Health, Mr Mahlatsi, to urgently intervene and restore critical surgical infrastructure and staffing to ensure theatres remain operational and accessible to patients.
During an oversight visit to Universitas Academic Hospital, the DA observed that the lifts leading to the theatre complex were non-operational, blocking doctors, nurses, and patients from accessing theatres. The situation is particularly concerning given the pressure placed on Universitas Academic Hospital, which receives surgical referrals from healthcare facilities across the Free State and neighbouring provinces. The collapse of basic infrastructure exposes the severe neglect within the provincial health system.
While we note the Department’s commitment of R48 million towards the repair and maintenance of lifts in Free State healthcare facilities, serious questions remain regarding implementation, timelines, and whether Universitas Academic Hospital forms part of this intervention plan. The DA has requested clarity from the MEC on the scope of these repairs and the Department’s strategy to prevent further deterioration of critical infrastructure.
Equally troubling is the ongoing shortage of theatre staff across healthcare facilities in the province. Numerous theatres remain non-operational due to the lack of theatre nurses and medical specialists. At Bongani Hospital, only three out of nine theatres are currently functional because of severe staffing shortages. This means six fully equipped theatres stand unused while patients remain trapped on growing surgical waiting lists.
The Department’s failure to recruit and retain healthcare personnel is directly denying residents access to life-saving procedures and placing additional strain on an already collapsing healthcare system.
The DA maintains that healthcare cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought while Free State residents suffer the consequences of government failures. Every delayed surgery represents a patient whose pain is prolonged, whose condition may worsen, or whose life may be placed at risk.
The Free State Department of Health must prioritise the restoration of operational theatres and the filling of critical vacancies. Residents deserve a healthcare system that works.