Four hundred prostate cancer patients at Charlotte Maxeke hospital are expected to wait for at least ten months to three years before they receive treatment that’s according to DA shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom.
Bloom stated that the four Linear Accelerator machines, which treat cancer patients, have all broken down since January 2018.
“There have also been shortages of 12 chemotherapy medicines, as well as morphine. I am most concerned that 17 out of 67 posts in the Oncology department are vacant. Two consultants, five registrars and 10 radiation therapists are needed,” he said.
According to Bloom in 2018, the hospital’s CEO Gladys Bogoshi said there were 300 prostate cancer patients who would wait two years for treatment. The number of prostate cancer patients increased to 400 and they were told to wait for three years to receive treatment by the hospital.
However, Bloom said he was pleased that two new Linear Accelerator machines will be bought in November. In July, Jack Bloom raised concerns about the growing waiting list at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where 828 hip replacement patients were awaiting treatment, 1141 waited for knee surgery and a further 3307 patients were awaiting cataract surgery.
Gauteng News tried to contact Charlotte Maxeke hospital and the health department for comment but we couldn’t reach them.
