By Johannah Malogadihlare
The SA Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu) in Gauteng has called on the Health Department to urgently conduct an audit following recent fires at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Ekurhuleni.
“We believe that an urgent and independent audit of Tembisa hospital’s infrastructure by the Department of Health is necessary. This audit should not only investigate the immediate causes of the fires but also provide a thorough evaluation of the hospital’s overall structural integrity, fire safety systems and emergency preparedness measures,” said Samatu Gauteng chairperson Phuthi Ratshabedi.
In less than a week, there were two fires at the hospital, affecting its accident and emergency unit and outpatient department. The first incident occurred last Saturday and the second one on Wednesday.
Ratshabedi said on Friday that the union has consistently raised concerns about the deteriorating infrastructure of South Africa’s hospitals.
He said the fires at Tembisa were also concerning because of the safety of patients and staff.
“The fires reveal critical weaknesses within the facility, prompting serious concerns regarding the adequacy of current safety protocols and the overall structural stability of the hospital building,” Ratshabedi said.
The union said safety should never be compromised.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the essential improvements needed to secure a safe and functional healthcare facility for the people of Tembisa,” he said.
The union warned that the department needed to start repairing and upgrading the building to avoid further incidents.
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