Gauteng’s eHealth Digitisation Project Faces Delays, Prompting Calls for Government Accountability
Ongoing Delays in eHealth Project Highlighted
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Nicola du Plessis is set to address Parliament regarding the delayed eHealth digitisation project in Gauteng. The initiative started in 2012, has failed to achieve significant progress, with only a small percentage of patient records digitised in the last 12 years.
Impact on Patient Safety and Healthcare Efficiency
Du Plessis expressed concern over the province’s healthcare system, noting that the delays in digitising medical records jeopardise patient care. The reliance on outdated paper records increases the chances of medical errors and prolongs treatment times, impacting the overall quality of healthcare.
Accountability and Poor Management within the Gauteng Health Department
The slow pace of progress has raised questions about poor management and a lack of political will within the Gauteng Health Department. Du Plessis will urge Parliament to hold the provincial government accountable and take immediate steps to resolve the issue.
Importance of the eHealth Digitisation Project
The eHealth initiative was designed to streamline patient care by ensuring quicker access to medical histories. By modernising healthcare records, the project aimed to improve service delivery, making diagnoses and treatments more efficient.
Du Plessis Calls for Urgent Government Intervention
Du Plessis stressed that swift government action is necessary to prevent further deterioration of healthcare services. She warned that continued delays in the digitisation process could harm the province’s healthcare system, calling on the government to prioritise the project.
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