South African Medical Association, SAMA, Eskom, load shedding, Stage 5 load shedding, Stage 6 load shedding, health facilities, medical facilities, hospitals, clinics

SAMA says health facilities want to be exempt from load shedding. Image: Stock Image / Pixabay

Health facilities want load shedding exemption: Medical Association

The SA Medical Association says that health facilities want Government to exempt them from load shedding due to the impact it has had.

South African Medical Association, SAMA, Eskom, load shedding, Stage 5 load shedding, Stage 6 load shedding, health facilities, medical facilities, hospitals, clinics

SAMA says health facilities want to be exempt from load shedding. Image: Stock Image / Pixabay

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) revealed that health facilities want to be exempt from load shedding and are prepared to beg the Government for this.

SAMA reveals the impact of power cuts on health facilities

SAMA says that Stage 5 and Stage 6 load shedding has negatively impacted essential emergency operations at health facilities. It added that doctors warned that load shedding poses a potential threat to those in ICU and retirement homes who depend on medical equipment.

EWN reports that those who are in need of a constant oxygen supply at medical facilities are facing another issue as SAMA revealed that hospital generators are not strong enough for the current weight.

Cooling systems for crucial medication and vaccines are also being compromised causing massive losses of medications in health facilities.

Load shedding was blamed for the death of a patient at a hospital

Earlier this week it was reported that health experts have confirmed that the impact of load shedding on South African hospitals is turning fatal. Revelations published by the Bhekisisa journal recall a case from earlier this year, where Eskom’s rolling blackouts were directly linked to the death of a patient.

An anonymous doctor got in touch with the senior health analysts, sharing a tragic story under a pseudonym. According to his testimony, load shedding caused a desperate delay in treating a severely-injured patient – who lost his opportunity for immediate and critical care.

The medical worker, who shared this horror story under the name of David Kerr, detailed how he was ‘heartbroken’ upon realising the patient could not be saved. The three-hour load shedding schedule ended up denying essential treatment to a badly injured member of the public. 

SAMA concerned over load shedding’s impact on hospitals

Previously, it was reported that the South African Medical Association (SAMA) is voicing its concern over the rolling blackouts and their level of impact on healthcare facilities across the country.

Eskom implemented high stages of load shedding, including stage 6 this week, which meant South Africans had their power cut off at least three times a day. Stage 5 of the rolling blackouts has been re-introduced for the weekend, while stage 3 is expected for the coming week.

SAMA’s Chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa says they are worried babies may even die as a result of the current power crisis. Read the full story here.