As higher stages of loadshedding return, only 76 of the more than 200 hospitals in the country are being exempted from rolling power cuts.

Additionally, Health Minister Joe Phaahla is seeking more financial backing from Treasury as rising fuel costs to run generators overburden health budgets.

In response to a written parliamentary question, Phaahla said not all hospitals had been exempted from loadshedding.

Phaahla said the national Department of Health had provided Eskom with the names of 213 hospitals that should be considered for possible exclusion from loadshedding. He was responding to a question from Democratic Alliance MP Evelyn Rayne Wilson.

"About 67% of these hospitals are supplied by municipalities while Eskom supplies about 33% of the identified hospitals. Out of the 213 hospitals, 76 hospitals have been exempted, of which 26 are directly supplied by Eskom and 50 by municipalities. The number of hospitals exempted to date have doubled since the meeting held on 22 September 2022 between Eskom and national Department of Health," he said.

On Wednesday morning, Eskom announced that Stage 5 loadshedding would be implemented continuously until further notice due to higher-than-expected demand.

The power utility said it would provide an update later on Wednesday.

According to Phaahla, seven hospitals in the Eastern Cape were exempted from load shedding, nine in Limpopo, 15 in KwaZulu-Natal, four in Mpumalanga, four in the Western Cape, two in the Northern Cape, three in North West, 14 in the Free State, and 18 in Gauteng.

"Loadshedding has a negative impact on the provision of health services at primary health facilities, hospitals, community health centres, clinics, EMS centres, including forensic laboratories," Phaahla said.

Furthermore, Phaahla said the department was seeking additional funding support for fuel, oil and the servicing of generators.

"The hospitals have been forced to use its budget on fuel, oil and medical gas just to keep healthcare facilities running. With persistent Stage 6 load shedding, greater energy demand is placed on generator capability, which requires increased fuel consumption and vast expenditure," he added.

Phaahla also said funding support is also needed for the installation of dedicated lines for certain key hospitals that are deeply embedded within the Eskom’s or municipal networks rendering exclusion impossible in their current state as bigger loads are to be exempted.

The department also needs funding for the roll-out of the solar energy and battery storage as back-up supply to all the clinics, hospitals, EMS centres including the forensic laboratories.