Over R1 billion spent to scan files at Limpopo Health Department
The DA in Limpopo has written to the Health Portfolio Committee chairperson, Dr William Malebana to summon the Health MEC, Dieketseng Mashego over R1 billion spent to scan files.
In response to a DA parliamentary question, the department indicated that it has already spent R1 027 915 629,82 since the appointment of Veritas Digital till November 2024. The contract with Veritas Digital is only for the scanning, archiving and storing of medical records.
ALSO READ: Uncle sentenced to life for rape of his 13-year-old niece
In the same response, the department indicated an additional R250 million was budgeted to the end of the 2024/2025 financial year with further allocations to be determined after a review process in March 2025.
The DA wants the department’s senior officials to appear before the committee to provide further details.
“523 health facilities form part of the contract but only 64 facilities had their scanning completed by November 2024. It is even more concerning that this only refers to inactive files and no active files have been scanned,” said the DA.
THE R1 BILLION CONTRACT TO SCAN FILES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH QUESTIONED
“The contract awarded to Veritas Digital has become a noose around the neck of Limpopo’s health system. Limpopo has numerous challenges such as doctor and nurse shortages, lack of equipment and dilapidated infrastructure that are much more pressing and must be addressed.
“This expenditure on digitising files is unacceptably excessive and at current spending levels it is likely that the department will need more billions to complete all 523 health facilities. During the review process the department should consider ways to make this process more affordable so more resources are available for the core business of the department and to prevent the province’s ailing health system from collapsing.”