Gauteng Health Department Acts to Address Cancer Treatment Backlog and Spend R511m Fund

In a crucial response to the mounting cancer treatment backlog, the Gauteng Department of Health is acting swiftly to make substantive changes and utilize a previously unspent R511 million budget aimed at urgent cancer cases. The backlog has resulted in prostate cancer patients facing an average waiting period of 300 days, and breast cancer patients around 120 days for radiation therapy. With 2,652 cancer patients on the waiting lists, the department's spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, has asserted significant moves toward a resolution.

A substantial R260 million has been allocated to outsource radiotherapy services to private healthcare providers for the next 24 months. This action is targeted to prioritize the most urgent cases, with the service level agreements on the verge of being finalized, assuring treatments to get underway soon.

The issue of the unspent budget came to the surface following a question directed by the Democratic Alliance to the Health and Wellness MEC of Gauteng, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in the provincial legislature. She disclosed that the funds had remained untouched since April of the previous year, highlighting the severity of the situation, especially for the patients at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

Modiba provided assurances that the patient flow between public and private facilities had been comprehensively planned to guarantee seamless management and treatment. He also delineated the department's efforts to upgrade crucial medical equipment and bolster human resources in the oncology sector. The campaign to fill 29 radiotherapist positions at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is ongoing, with some interviews already conducted.

In the context of cancer treatment, it's also imperative to note the complex nature of chemotherapy – a treatment known for its potency and the spectrum of side effects it engenders. Patients often encounter challenges like fatigue, nausea, immune suppression, and cognitive adjustments, which underline the importance of thoroughly assessing all treatment options. Given its invasive nature, many healthcare professionals advise considering chemotherapy a last-resort measure, promoting a decision-making process that is attentive to the patient's health objectives and the delicate balance between the therapy's benefits and potential risks.