The provision of primary health care services to rural areas by the department has been shrouded in controversy as the department was criticised for spending millions with Mediosa, a Gupta-linked company. The Free State and North West Health Departments came under fire for paying millions upfront to this company.

Several questions were also raised in the latest Auditor-General Report about the department’s procurement of six luxury buses that were to be used as mobile clinics. These buses are, however, mostly gathering dust at the Psychiatric Facility in Bloemfontein, because after they were bought it was found that they are not suitable to travel on some rural roads. In an effort to in-source this service, the department then procured these 20 new mobile clinics. Deputy President, David Mabuza, and Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, handed these clinics over to the Bohlokong community in Bethlehem on Friday.

Ntombela also announced that hundreds of health workers in the Free State are now going to receive their salaries directly from the provincial health department. This follows after the workers have been paid by a third party – a non-governmental organisation - for the past two financial years. The department changed its system for health workers after it was involved in a court case with the Treatment Action Campaign after about 100 of health workers were arrested while staging a sit-in. They were protesting about outstanding payments and demanded an increase. Ntombela announced that with the overhaul of the system, the health workers would be paid by the department again and challenges with their working conditions are going to be addressed. The Health Department is expected to table its budget, which would include the salaries of health workers, after elections when the new provincial legislature is assembled.

OFM News/Ntsikie Joyi