TimesLive reports that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has found that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health violated the rights of oncology patients when it failed to provide relevant services in the province’s two major hospitals.  

In a statement on Thursday‚ the SAHRC said a complaint in February 2016 raised a number of challenges regarding the provision of services to oncology patients.  Among the complaints were that there were insufficient radiotherapy treatment devices and facilities in the province, that the radiotherapy machines at Addington Hospital were not working and that there was a lack of qualified staff such as oncologists.  In its reply‚ the provincial department said it was experiencing human resource constraints and did not have enough oncologists.  The SAHRC concluded that the department had not put in place “coherent plans that took into account the rights and experience of patients to maintain or improve the provision of specialised health services to patients in critical need”.

• Read this report in full at TimesLive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page