Motsoaledi says planning for 3 new district hospitals to address overcrowding in very early stages

CAPE TOWN - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the planning for three new district hospitals is in the very early stages to address chronic overcrowding at many facilities. 

Delivering his budget vote address in Parliament on Wednesday, Motsoaledi said the new central hospitals would be located in Mpumalanga, the North-West and Northern Cape. 

As ActionSA called for limits to be placed on foreign nationals seeking medical assistance, Motsoaledi said the strain on public facilities was a result of a growing population. 

Motsoaledi said six new hospitals are at varying stages of construction to reduce the high demand in Gauteng, but also in underserved areas.

But former doctor turned ActionSA Member of Parliament (MP) Kgosi Letlape said his party wants the constitution to be amended to limit foreign nationals' access to health facilities. 

“Section27 should not talk about everyone. It’s not time to be ‘Father Christmas’ when our people are suffering. It should be specific to citizens. Our hospitals are being overrun by people from elsewhere.”

But Motsoaledi said 86% of facilities are being used by South Africans, and that rapid urbanisation is contributing to overburdened facilities.

However, he said new hospitals will take several years to plan, design, construct and commission. 

“If we do nothing, the demeaning scenes we see often on national TV, like the pregnant women sleeping on floors and chairs, will unfortunately be the order of the day.”

Motsoaledi said the government will also have to borrow money from international and local financial financing institutions to realise its plans of building more hospitals.