The Eastern Cape government would implement recommendations arising from a probe into the deaths of babies at Frere Hospital, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday.
Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela gave the assurance during a meeting of the standing committee of health in the Bhisho legislature.
Some of the suggestions were already being implemented, said provincial health minister Nomsa Jajula, adding that the hospital was to undergo a R150-million revamp.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang ordered the probe earlier this month after a newspaper reported that a high number of infants had died at the hospital.
The task team found that no babies died as a result of a lack of equipment.
It recommended replacing the hospital’s six incubators and ultrasound machine, and buying more neonatal ventilators and weight and measurement scales.
It suggested that an equipment asset register be maintained, that an equipment replacement policy be drawn up and applied, and that the hospital’s budget provide for equipment maintenance and replacement.
It also advised that quality and infection control be ”robustly enforced”.
The Democratic Alliance has described the report, released on Monday, as a ”whitewash”, claiming its methodology was flawed.
It charged that the hospital had time to prepare for the team’s visit which involved only a walk-about and conversations with staff.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions called for an urgent independent public inquiry to establish the ”true facts”.
However, the Eastern Cape health department has accused both organisations of trying to mislead the public by spreading wrong information to ”promote their own political agenda”. – Sapa