The Gauteng Department of Health MEC Bandile Masuku revealed that there are 12 of the hospitals in Gauteng Province, which do not have permanent chief executive officers.
Masuku said Gauteng province has 32 public hospitals under the department’s authority.
“The vacancies’ rate relate themselves with the functioning and stability of a hospital. For instant, Mamelodi hospital did not have a CEO for a year. We have to fill the posts and start with the turnaround strategy accurately,” said Masuku.
Masuku said Gauteng hospitals without permanent chief executives include Sebokeng, Mamelodi, Weskoppies, Pholosong, Far East Rand, Tambo Memorial, Jubilee, Edenvale, Heidelburg, Bronkhorspruit, Cullinan Care and Rehabilition Centre and Bertha Gxowa.
“Acting CEOs at these facilities have been serving in temporary positions for periods ranging from five months to just over two years. The positions form part of 34 senior management posts which are vacancies across the province. Health department is divided into five districts and four districts need chief directors”, he added.
Masuku added that the vacancies are caused by people who have retired, resigned for greener pastures and are aware that when there are leaders in health institutions, functioning is affected.
“We want the unfilled vacancies to be filled in the institutions. For instance, here follows the available vacancies: Acting posts costing R6m, there are 136 vacant positions in the entire administration including head office, all hospitals and clinics. Acting positions were costing the department approximately R6 281 871.52, between April and July 2019. The cost came from the instability that arose in public facilities due to vacancies not being filled on a full-time basis. So the department has set aside R600m to ensure that this task is achieved”, he added.
Masuku said they put aside the mentioned to fill all posts in general, not just those of the CEO. He added that the department has set a goal, aiming to complete the recruitment process by mid-September.
“We have already advertised the posts and we will start with shortlisting, interviews and then we will appoint,” he said.
