Bungle halts free vaccines for babies at private clinics

A PAPERWORK bungle has halted the supply of free government vaccinations for babies and contraceptives to private clinics and pharmacies in Port Elizabeth – and new mothers will now have to pay more than R1000 for private stock if they want to avoid queues at state facilities.

Eastern Cape Health Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo admitted yesterday that an administrative bunglehad delayed the signing of new contracts with private clinics for the past six months.

This means that new moms who do not want to go to government clinics will have to pay R1600 in cash – or use their medical aids – to get vaccinations for their babies.

Kupelo said the agreements were introduced to enable the department to have better control over its stock.

"Unfortunately, the paperwork got stuck somewhere in Bhisho," he said.

"There is no reason for documents to remain in our offices for such a long time.

"People forget that when you deal with health issues, you deal with life and death. - Estelle Ellis