Jabu Rakwena AZAPO Department of Publicity and Information (DPI)
By Cde Jabu Rakwena
Secretary for Publicity and Informatio
AZAPO views with dismay and expresses concern over the withdrawal of services by the Healthcare Professionals of the Ekurhuleni Department of Family Medicine at Ekurhuleni due to unpaid overtime hours.
This situation reflects a failure by the Gauteng Health Department to provide optimal health services for patients at Ekurhuleni Hospitals.
The issue is further exacerbated by the nonpayment of doctors’ commuted overtime, which is likely to result in inadequate healthcare services in Ekurhuleni.
Currently, doctors at Ekurhuleni are no longer performing overtime duties, leading to a lack of after-hours health services.
The healthcare crisis in Ekurhuleni underscores a systemic issue within the Gauteng Health Department.
The withdrawal of services due to unpaid overtime not only hampers the immediate delivery of healthcare but also threatens long-term public health stability.
AZAPO’s Mthuli ka Shezi region (Ekurhuleni) expresses solidarity with the Healthcare Professionals and the community who are likely to be affected by this development.
AZAPO furthermore observes that if immediate action is not taken, the situation will deteriorate further, leading to a more severe healthcare crisis in the region.
The Mthuli ka Shezi region calls for the immediate resolution of the commuted overtime dispute and the normalization of health service delivery within the next two weeks.
Should normal health services not be restored, AZAPO will consider mobilizing the Ekurhuleni communities for a significant protest at the offices of the Gauteng Department of Health to demand accountability.