TSHWANE – Patients at Odi District Hospital in Mabopane are experiencing disruptions to healthcare services after suppliers began cutting back on essential support due to R33 million in unpaid bills.
The financial crisis at the hospital, which serves more than one million residents in the Tshwane area, has raised concerns about financial management and the sustainability of healthcare services in the facility.
According to information presented to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Wellness during a recent oversight visit, approximately 80% of the debt is overdue beyond the legally prescribed 30-day payment period. Finance Manager Charles Lesufi disclosed the extent of the unpaid bills during the visit.
The situation has left many suppliers unable to pay staff or restock supplies, threatening the delivery of essential healthcare services at the facility.
Impact on service delivery
The Public Servants Association (PSA) said the outstanding debts may lead to shortages of medical supplies, delays in procurement processes and increased strain on overburdened staff.
“Healthcare workers should not be placed in a position where they are expected to deliver services without the necessary resources owing to poor financial management,” the PSA said in a statement.
The debt is also likely to affect plans to fill at least 27 vacant posts at the hospital and the facility’s expansion plans. The hospital currently has only four accident and emergency casualty beds and a few intensive care beds. This has often forced patients to be ventilated in the casualty department and mental health patients to be accommodated in general medical wards due to overcrowding.
The unpaid bills could further strain the upcoming budget cycle, as much of the new operational funding may need to cover historical debts because of limited cash at both the hospital and the Gauteng Department of Health.
Calls for action
The Democratic Alliance is also demanding urgent action to address the financial crisis at Odi Hospital to ensure suppliers are paid.
DA Gauteng spokesperson for health Madeleine Hicklin said the party has consistently exposed poor financial controls in the department led by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“The MEC’s abject failure to implement sound financial controls is now affecting over one million residents served by this hospital,” Hicklin said.
The PSA has called on the relevant authorities in the Gauteng Department of Health to urgently investigate the circumstances that led to the accumulation of the debt.
“Transparency and accountability are essential to restoring confidence in the management of the hospital,” the PSA said.
The association also urged the department to implement immediate corrective measures to stabilise the hospital’s financial position and ensure that service delivery is not compromised.
Hicklin said health refurbishment projects must be prioritised to strengthen emergency units, theatres, maternity wards and mental health facilities across the province. However, she said these upgrades will have little impact if the underlying failures in the health system are not addressed.
“The Gauteng Department of Health must urgently fix its financial mismanagement, pay service providers on time, and ensure hospitals like Odi are properly resourced to deliver reliable healthcare,” she said.
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