New Medical Equipment to Improve State Facilities Health Care

During a visit to Hermanus Hospital today Minister Uys said "well-functioning equipment is crucial to the delivery of quality health services" The Hospital received a new gastroscope worth R 120 000 and 3 infusion pumps worth R30 000.

"This December, as part of the Christmas Deliverables campaign, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health will spend millions on medical equipment in an attempt to improve access to quality health services" min. Uys says this morning at the Hermanus Hospital.

The Health system is set for a big boost with the purchasing of various state-of-the-art and much needed medical equipment such as a gastroscope, x-ray rooms and a colposcope that will offer top-class medical treatment to the affected facilities where there is a need for these equipment. The equipment will be allocated to a number of health facilities within the province.

With an increase in patients and the demand of service delivery in the health system combined with the fact that equipment in health facilities is often old, the Department acknowledges the demand for new and improved equipment at public health facilities. In this financial year the Department of Health will spent close to R130m on new equipment.

"With the purchasing of these much needed medical equipment, the Department aims to deliver quality health care services to the communities and we also aim at making the working conditions and environment of our medical staff more friendly and easy accessible" says min. Uys.

Min Uys said the new equipment comes just at the right time, as the Festive Season is upon us and through past experiences the health facilities are busier than usual as a result of more road accidents and violence.