By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has warned that the blocking of access to health facilities is a violation of the South African Constitution; deprives people of their fundamental rights.
Phaahla met with the Tshwane leadership of the organisation at the hospital after its members held pickets for several days outside the facility, blocking documented and undocumented foreign nationals from accessing healthcare services based on their nationality, colour of their skin and the language they speak.
The group, which has been condemned by government and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for its protests, is accusing immigrants of putting pressure on the country’s healthcare sector.
“These groups of people have been blocking access to health facilities thus causing serious disruptions to the orderly provision of health services to vulnerable ill people seeking help at our health facilities,” Phaahla said.
Phaahla was speaking during a site-visit to Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, on Thursday, to assess the impact of the current sporadic protests on access to health services.
He said the National Department and Ministry of Health have noted with concern over the last few days organised protests at some health facilities, especially in Gauteng.
Phaahla emphasised that the South African Government is obliged by the Constitution and the Law to make sure that its population has access to health care services and that “no one may be refused emergency medical treatment”.
“The right to health in our Constitution is not qualified and must be understood as such. The National Health Act goes on to provide the framework through which a national health service will be put in place, which will provide in an equitable manner the population of the Republic with the best possible health services that available resources can afford.
“I am hereby making a call to the leaders and followers of the organisations responsible for the blockades of our health facilities to stop these with immediate effect. Yours as citizens is to hold the government accountable for improvement of services whatever the cause of poor service might be,” the Minister said.
He added that the department does not prefer to rely on law enforcement to create an environment conducive for health workers to do their best in saving lives.
“That is our last resort but of course, if we are left with no alternative, we will call on the police to keep law and order,” Phaahla warned.
Phaahla meanwhile said the national health department is considering charging neighbouring countries for immigrants who access health services in SA.
According to Phaahla, the department is consulting with governments from neighbouring countries to see how they can contribute to the medical bills of immigrants in SA.
He said the department was looking at organising for governments from neighbouring countries to sign agreements whereby, if there is a need for SA to be refunded for providing health services to immigrants, there could be some compensation.