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The Democratic Alliance is concerned there is no imminent relief for cancer patients who need urgent radiation treatment despite Premier Panyaza Lesufi's announcement last week of an outsourcing deal with private hospitals.

In Lesufi's statement reflecting on 100 days of his provincial government, he says the outsourcing of radiotherapy services to private healthcare providers has been completed, and they are "finalising the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and expect treatments to commence soon."

But this is very poor progress in spending R511 million budgeted since March last year to cut the radiation treatment backlog of cancer patients.

Also concerning is there has been no consultation with the Cancer Alliance, Section27 and Treatment Action group despite Lesufi's promise in his SOPA address in August this year that he would "promptly designate an impartial group headed by cancer specialists to serve as a mediator between the department of health and interest groups”.

This is yet another failed Lesufi promise as the cancer interest groups are still battling in the courts to ensure the cancer budget is spent effectively. The next court hearing on this is on 21 November.

I doubt that any state cancer patients will receive private treatment before early next year as there will need to be a reassessment of all the patients, and facilities will be closed over December.

The urgency is that there are more than 2000 patients waiting for radiation treatment, which should be done within 60 days of surgery or chemotherapy, and no later than 90 days, to destroy remaining malignant cancer cells.

I estimate that hundreds of cancer patients have needlessly suffered and died because of the outrageous delay in spending the available budget. This is as big a scandal as the Life Esidimeni disaster in which 144 mental patients died after they were sent to unsuitable NGOs.

This is why the ANC is trying to stop my motion of censure in the Gauteng Legislature against Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko for her failure to work with cancer interest groups to ensure speedy treatment to save the lives of cancer patients.

The DA proposes that lessons be learned in efficient cancer treatment from the DA-run Western Cape Health Department, supplemented by a private/public partnership to cut the treatment backlog of public patients.

Issued by Jack Bloom MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC