Cape Town – Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he has “zero authority” to improve the functioning of troubled state hospitals, which are all managed by provincial governments.
Motsoaledi told the portfolio committee on health on Thursday that a two-year ministerial task team report highlighted 19 key problems at hospitals in six provinces around the country.
The task team spent two years visiting the 25 hospitals, most of which were struggling with staffing issues, budget problems, high-level vacancies and poor service conditions.
The minister said all 19 findings fell broadly into four categories, none of which were in his control.
“My conclusion is that a minister in health has a huge responsibility, but zero authority where it matters the most,” he lamented.
“Such authority is with the MECs of both finance and health, their premiers and executive councils.”
The areas in which these hospitals are falling short include human resources, procurement
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