Pitermaritzburg - A KwaZulu-Natal health portfolio committee went in camera on Tuesday during the tabling of a report in the provincial legislature on the troubled National Health Laboratory Services.
|||Pitermaritzburg - A KwaZulu-Natal health portfolio committee went in camera on Tuesday during the tabling of a report in the provincial legislature on the troubled National Health Laboratory Services.
“Because the matter is now subject of an arbitration process I would suggest that the matter is discussed in camera,” health MEC Sbongiseni Dhlomo told committee members.
KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as chief offender in failing to pay a bill of R1.7 billion to the NHLS which has seen some of the facilities shut down.
The province is said to be contesting the bill saying it owes less than this.
The closure of laboratories has raised concerns in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that battles with HIV and TB infections.
Committee chairwoman Lydia Johnson had expressed an interest in having the media present during the tabling of the report, which was one of the last items on the committee agenda.
Earlier on Dhlomo expressed confidence at the competence levels of hospital heads in the province, saying only 13 of the 84 CEOs showed areas of weaknesses.
He added that the department was careful in getting medically qualified professionals to the ranks of hospital heads as this was crucial in ensuring that quality health care was delivered in hospitals. - Sapa