STAFF REPORTER
GOVERNMENT has condemned the actions of protesters who have been preventing people from accessing healthcare services at Kalafong Hospital in Attridgeville, Pretoria, based on the colour of their skin and the language spoken.
This after several protesters outside Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital stopped patients, especially migrants, receiving healthcare services.
One patient denied care in Kalafong Hospital was a 37-week pregnant migrant woman with high blood pressure, who instead had to seek help at a local clinic, according to reports.
“These actions by a few are infringing on basic human rights. They go against the tenets of our hard fought for democracy,” said government spokesperson Phumla Williams.
She said in South Africa, the right to access basic health services is a basic human right that is guaranteed by the Constitution.
“South Africa is governed by the rule of law, which makes provision for every person in the country, regardless of their nationality or documentation status to access healthcare,” she said.
“The victimization of patients and hospital employees who are suspected of being foreign nationals should be condemned by all of us. The Southern African Development Community Agreements, to which South Africa is a party to allows foreign nationals from member states to receive the same care as all South Africans.”
Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said “preventing access to healthcare can have dire consequences to patients and have a negative impact on the public health system and to citizens at large.”
“We understand that the public health system is overburdened because of a myriad of challenges; however, doctors and healthcare workers have an obligation to provide healthcare to those in need,” said Gungubele.
“The Hippocratic Oath guides the actions of doctors, which includes them not withholding services because of religion, nationality, race, politics or social standing. Government is hard at work to improve our healthcare system and deal with challenges.”
“South Africa subscribes to its constitutional principles which protect the human rights of all the people leaving in the country. South Africans should strive to live in harmony with fellow Africans and be part of building a better South Africa and a better Africa.”
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