Media reports about chronic ambulance shortages in the Eastern Cape are a ”gross exaggeration”, the Eastern Cape health department said on Thursday.
”The situation is not out of hand,” said spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo.
A national targeted norm of one ambulance for every 10 000 residents by 2010 had been set by the national committee on emergency services, he said.
”In the Eastern Cape, we currently have one per 30 000 and I’m confident that by 2010 we’ll be in a position to meet this national targeted norm.”
The province has a 30% emergency-services post vacancy and does face a vehicle shortage, he said.
However, a Herald Online report alleging that Port Elizabeth had only five to seven ambulances to serve 1,3-million residents is ”a gross exaggeration of the situation”.
The report also pointed to staff shortages and payment of overtime.
To address the 30% staff vacancy rate, the department has set R30,5-million to recruit emergency staff.
”About 192 positions have been advertised and that process is still under way.”
Current personnel is at 1 300.
Kupelo said emergency-services management are also probing allegations around the submission of fraudulent medical certificates for sick leave in order for colleagues to work overtime, causing staff shortages.
”We believe people take sick leave [when] they are not sick.”
Kupelo said 91 emergency vehicles were allocated last November in various parts of the province.
A fleet of 65 ambulances has been ordered and delivery is expected in a few months, with R10,7-million set aside for this.
Paramedic training is also under way and operations or communications facilities are being modernised across the province.
The total budget for emergency services is R380-million with the aim of readiness for the 2010 World Cup. — Sapa