Gauteng hospitals struggle with food shortages
The majority of Gauteng hospitals are suffering from food shortages. With patients forced to eat repetitive meals or go without food. Sometimes, patients even opt to purchase their meals from hospital cafeterias or use e-delivery services. PATIENTS RESORT TO PURCHASING MEALS OR USING E-DELIVERY SERVICES AS GAUTENG HOSPITALS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD Since the start of […]
The majority of Gauteng hospitals are suffering from food shortages. With patients forced to eat repetitive meals or go without food. Sometimes, patients even opt to purchase their meals from hospital cafeterias or use e-delivery services.
PATIENTS RESORT TO PURCHASING MEALS OR USING E-DELIVERY SERVICES AS GAUTENG HOSPITALS STRUGGLE WITH FOOD
Since the start of 2023, 26 out of 34 Gauteng public hospitals have been affected by food shortages – this was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in a written reply to questions from DA Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom.
“The shortages were mostly due to suppliers not being paid, contracts expiring, or companies not delivering. It was so bad for two hospitals, Bronkhorstspruit and Lenasia South, they had to borrow food from other hospitals!” said Bloom.
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Chicken, fish and frozen vegetables were unavailable at George Mukhari Hospital for four months. While there was no milk from February to May, and bread was out of stock for a week in May.
In some instances, patients at the Kalafong Hospital are at risk of “hospital-induced malnutrition in the long run” as they do not receive meals. Food in short supply at the facility includes dairy products, processed and frozen vegetables, fish and chicken.
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The hospital can spend up to R2000 per day as petty cash and says this is not enough to provide for 700 patients.
Steve Biko Hospital has also used its petty cash allocation to purchase milk and used Request for Quotation (RFQ) to buy chicken after the supplier pulled out of the contract.
“Helen Joseph Hospital has ‘sporadic’ shortages of frozen food and dry groceries, with the result that patients buy their own food at the cafeteria and use food delivery services. Patients also skip meals due to repetitions and lack of variety,” said Bloom.
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At Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, the food shortage is a result of production issues at the Gauteng government-run Cook Freeze Factory. As a result, patients received repetitive meals and the only hot meal of the day was served for supper.
Lerafong Hospital’s patients received powdered milk instead of fresh milk and were served dry bread for breakfast as peanut butter, or jam was reserved for supper.
Other affected hospitals include:
- Chris Hani Baragwanath
- Edenvale
- Sebokeng
- Tambo Memorial
- Thelle Mogoerane
- Yusuf Dadoo
- Bertha Gxowa
- Pretoria West
- Jubilee
- Bheki Mlangeni
- Tshwane District
- Carletonville
- Tembisa
- Tshwane Rehab
- Cullinan Care Rehab
- Sizwe Tropical Disease
- Tara H Moross
Hospitals not affected include Far East Rand, Mamelodi, Pholosong, South Rand, Heidelberg, Kopanong and Sterkfontein and Weskoppies.
However, Weskoppies said it had to use RFQs and make other alternate arrangements to ensure they have food for patients.
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A CULTURE OF NON-PAYMENT TO BLAME, SAYS DA
Bloom said food provision would only improve with better management and autonomy for Hospital CEOs with “proven competence and honesty.”
He also slammed the Gauteng government’s inability to make payments on time and said its multi-vendor approach to food supply would not make a difference if payments were not made within 30 days.
“Their non-payment problem is deep-rooted and chronic, with only 41% paid within due time, according to the latest quarterly report. Good nutrition is vital for sick patients to recover, and decent meals are also good for morale. It is shameful that hospitals still struggle with the simple matter of food provision,” said Bloom.
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