(a) The breakdown of the linear accelerator at Addington Hospital resulted from lack of maintenance following a dispute between the suppliers and the KZN Department of Health. This has resulted in the province contracting a new service provider to maintain the equipment which from all accounts they failed to do. All oncologists that worked at Addington Hospitals were transferred to work in Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. This also meant that all patients that required radiation in the eThekwini district were referred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. It appears that the perceived additional workload at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital contributed to the oncologists resigning.
(b) The Department is in the process of finalising a service level agreement with the supplier of the linear accelerator that requires significant repairs.
The KZN Department of Health has issued a tender to contract private oncologists to work in the public sector. This tender closes on 14 December 2017. In addition, the Department has recently requested the National Department of Health for assistance to recruit English speaking foreign oncologists who are eligible for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
(c) The National Department of Health has:
END.