More than 60 healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape were unable to open on Thursday due to a taxi strike.
The strike is linked to the non-payment of service providers who transport schoolchildren.
According to reports, healthcare professionals were unable to get to work due to blocked roads, which prevented clinics from opening and forced some hospitals to operate with skeleton staff.
Buffalo City most affected
The provincial health department confirmed the news, stating that facilities in Buffalo City metro were the most hit, with 54 clinics unable to open.
“In East London, 21 clinics could not open, while in Qonce, Bhisho, and Mdantsane, 20 and 13 clinics, respectively, did not open because staff could not get to work because of blocked roads,” said Mkhululi Ndamase, the spokesperson for the MEC for health.
Ndamase claimed that the strike had a negative impact on patient administration, general outpatient departments, laundry, and the maintenance unit because not all workers who use public transportation could report for duty.
“Theatre has had to prioritise emergency cases,” he added.
Health MEC criticises shutdown
Teaching and learning also could not take place at the East London Lilitha College of Nursing campus.
Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth condemned the blocking of roads, saying that behaviour affects the lives of other people.
“People must not infringe on other people’s rights when they exercise their right to protest,” Meth said.
“Healthcare workers provide essential services that can mean life or death at times, so it can’t be that they are prevented from getting to work.”
She stated that there have been no adverse effects as a result of the blockades; however, she mentioned that such protests affect facilities and service delivery.
Santaco distances itself from strike
“In some cases, people have to travel long distances to get health services because the clinics closer to them are not operational.”
On Thursday, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the province distanced itself from the shutdown and said it was committed to ensuring the safety of commuters.
The department of transport in the province stated that payments have been made and the service providers will receive their money on Wednesday next week.
“The next run of payment amounting to R5.9-million is scheduled for Friday, with payment reflecting on operators on May 8,” said the department.
