Question NW22 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

Noting the growing concerns by various stakeholders on lack of progress in repairing the damages done to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, following the devastating fires more than nine months ago and the hospital allegedly running only at 40% capacity. A joint intervention between NDOH and the province was initiated. Its objective was to identify the following:

i) The latest progress of the remedial work; and

ii) The best approach that can be applied in order:

1. To speed up the execution of remedial work.
2. To ensure compliance with the COJ (City of Johannesburg) Occupational Health Safety requirements.
3. To ensure that the hospital is fully functionally and operationally.

1. The latest progress reports on the repair work at the hospital

It covers the following areas:

i) The assessment and Identification of the gaps that are related to the infrastructure requirements of health care facilities, particularly areas in Charlotte Maxeke that are required to be recommissioned for occupancy after the fire incident dated the 16-17th of April 2021.

ii) Outlining the Health and Safety Requirements and approach that will be used during the refurbishment and maintenance of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) Hospital and to ensure that the remedial works programme and compliance monitoring are aligned with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, National Building Regulations 103 of 1977 and National Health Act 61 of 2003 and its latest regulations.

i) Advising the hospital management on standard to comply with on the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, City of Johannesburg By-Laws and other related Health and Safety Legislation for the proposed functional and support services such as the Mortuary, Kitchen, Laundry and Waste Management Areas.

ii) Providing specific recommendations in addressing gaps and over and above that, ensuring that the priority concern areas are addressed to comply as a matter of urgency.

iii) Proposing mitigation measures to improve the overall condition, efficiency and functionality of the Hospital to prevent Health and Safety Incidents.

iv) Ensuring that the monitoring, evaluation, reporting and review methods for this OHS inspection report are implementable and appropriate measuring tools to ensure effectiveness are put in place.

v) Listing the outcomes to be expected through the implementation of this Site Assessment Report recommendations and monitor its effectiveness.

vi) Providing guidance and assistance in the development of the Health, Safety and Environmental Systems during Construction and Operation that will include Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Methodologies, Documentation Control, communication, Training, Management Approach and reviews. This will ensure continual improvement of the hospital management.

2. Status provided by the appointed service providers

The has been some progress through the Solidarity Funding. They have covered some of the remedial work related to electrical, mechanical, fire safety, structural and architectural works for the following Blocks:

# Block 1 – 17% complete

# Block 2 – 18% complete

# Block 3 – 20% complete

# Block 4 – 22% complete

# Block 5 – 29% complete

3. The timeframe for the remedial work

The project plan has been submitted to the National Department of Health (NDOH) covering all the milestones including the timelines of the indicators. The duration of the project is estimated as being 22 months long. Over this period the hospital remedial works will be completed to achieve compliance with the applicable COJ requirements.

Additionally, the project is intending to cover the remedial work for the following Blocks as indicated in Table 2 below:

REMEDIAL WORK FOR THE BLOCKS	EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION
Emergency Unit	March 2022
Block 1	March 2023
Block 2	July 2023
Block 3	October 2023
Block 4	November 2023
Block 5	November 2023

Table 2 – High Level Plan for the Blocks

END.