RAF’s callousness brings health care providers to its knees

Dear Editor

Victims of traffic accidents face additional trauma when receiving medical care as the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is failing to disburse payments. This issue compounds the extreme financial strain experienced by healthcare providers such as Hospicare, which is comparable to the circumstances faced by Sunshine Hospital in Gauteng. These healthcare facilities play a crucial role in enabling the RAF to accomplish its constitutional duties, which include giving the poorest of the poor access to social security and critical healthcare services including sub-acute, renal, and frail care facilities.

The RAF had a significant role in the closure of Sunshine Hospital by failing to provide for essential support and treatment. Sunshine Hospital, a private hospital in Gauteng, cared for hundreds of victims of auto accidents for more than 21 years. However, its closure at the end of April this year was brought on by lengthy legal disputes with the RAF, which had been delaying payments for years despite multiple court rulings.

Hospicare is currently facing severe financial difficulties due to the RAF sending them patients but no payments. Although the RAF and the Treasury approved the payments, payment has not been made for the past six months, accumulating debt exceeding R30 million. As a result, they are unable to effectively manage their facilities or take care of patients’ basic need for food and medication.

It is simply intolerable that the cash flow crisis caused by RAF have severely compromised patients’ welfare, prohibiting access to essential healthcare and treatment. Certain patients require specialised medication, which cannot be obtained because the RAF is not paying for it.

To make matters worse, a breakdown in communication continues with promises made followed by no contact or replies.

Despite less money being owed to Hospicare, this kind of treatment cannot be extended to another specialised care institution. Patients at Hospicare are currently facing grave negligence at the hands of the same decision-makers and the ANC administration, who don’t seem to be concerned or care.

In response to this dire situation, the DA will engage on this matter requesting a full report with reasons why payments were held back, to address the callousness displayed by RAF and its repercussions for healthcare institutions.

Regards

Dr Chris Hunsinger
DA Shadow Minister of Transport