LDoH’s files scanning, archiving and storage contract questioned

Dennilton

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo, has yesterday written a letter to the Health Committee Chairperson, Joshua Matlou, to expedite the R1 Million daily payment to a digital scan filing service provider.

The party said it has launched an investigation against the department’s exaggerating payment to the digital company that was appointed to scan and digitise files.

“In March 2020, the Health Department in Limpopo awarded a contract to a service provider, Veritas Digital, to scan, archive and store inactive records from Limpopo’s hospitals and clinics for a period of 60 months. The department failed to disclose the monetary value awarded to the tender to the portfolio committee on health. Yet, according to recent media reports, the department has been forking out an exorbitant amount of R1 Million per day to this service provider,” said Risham Maharaj, Limpopo DA Spokesperson for Health.

Maharaj added that the party’s most concern is that the department has contingent liabilities in excess of R14 Billion that stem from medico-legal cases against it.

Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton is one of the hospitals in the province topping the list of medico-legal cases, facing legal claims to the excesses of about R650 Million. The hospital is said to be marred by highest records of stillborn babies, infant mortality rate and general medical legal claims.

According to Maharaj, the loss of patient records is one of the main factors related to the root causes of the high rate of litigation and the digitisation of these records is therefore paramount.

“However, the amount of R1 million a day is unfathomable and completely unacceptable,” explained Maharaj.

Furthermore, Maharaj indicated that the department utilises about 70% of its budget on compensating employees and leaves very little resources for services.

“Every cent must be used wisely to prevent the province’s ailing health system from collapsing. The MEC of Health in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, together with her senior management, must appear before the portfolio committee and provide all relevant details around the appointment of Veritas Digital and the exact monetary value,” he said.

Maharaj stressed that Ramathuba must also account for their daily operations, hence they have written to the committee chairperson, Joshua Matlou, to expedite the matter.

“We will also submit Parliamentary questions to obtain all relevant information in the awarding of the contract,” he said.

When going to press, the Limpopo Department of Health was not available for a comment.