Cancer patients: Health Minister should intervene – Jack Bloom – POLITICS

National Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi should intervene to save hundreds of cancer patients whose chances of survival are worsening due to the Gauteng Health Department’s negligence.

According to figures given last week at a meeting of the Gauteng Legislature’s Health Committee, there are 2637 cancer patients waiting for treatment – 1440 prostate cancer patients and 848 for other cancers at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, and 349 patients at the Steve Biko Hospital.

This underestimates the need as there is also a waiting time to be diagnosed before they can be placed on the treatment list.

Many patients are taken off the list because the delay means radiation therapy is no longer an option, which drastically cuts their survival chances.