Sunday Tribune reports that oncology services in KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN’s) public hospitals have collapsed and there are no more doctors left in Durban who specialise in treating cancer.  

While there are still two oncologists at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, the last cancer doctor at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital will leave the public sector next week, with another having finished up on Thursday.  Albert Luthuli treats 80% of the province’s cancer patients.  For those with cancer who do not have access to private treatment, there is no help in KZN.  Because there are no oncologists left in public health to train new cancer doctors, the University of KZN’s medical school will lose its accreditation to train in oncology.  A Durban oncologist commented:  “There’s a point when enough is enough and you have no option but to do what’s best for yourself.  Doctors are not selfish, we get into the profession to help people but if we are treated badly and placed under immense pressure all the time, should we just accept the situation or move onto better working environments?”  KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said that the department was considering sending cancer patients to private oncologists to get treatment.

• Read this report by Nabeelah Shaikh in full at Sunday Tribune

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