The ambulance service got about R6.5 million per month amid a national shortage of ambulances. During a visit by the National Council of Provinces earlier this year, the department came under fire for invoices that amounted to thousands for inter-hospital transfers in Bloemfontein by Buthelezi Ambulances. This contract will expire in December this year.

The Health departments in the Free State and North West are the only ones in the country that outsourced ambulance services. This is despite the fact that both these departments have been placed under administration. The service-agreement in North West also formed part of the grievances by health workers who went on strike earlier this year.

The requirements for the new tender in the Free State states that the service will be delivered to five districts which require about 40 emergency vehicles. The Free State Health Department undertook to answer detailed questions by tomorrow. The Health Department is currently under the care of Provincial Treasury while under administration.

During a sitting of the Portfolio Committee of Public Accounts of the Free State Legislature today, Provincial Treasury said the administration order might be rescinded soon. The department was placed under administration after a shortage of medication, medical staff and a backlog in the maintenance of life-saving medical equipment. The department also made headlines when an exodus of medical professionals at Universitas Academic Hospital was taking place.

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