Crisis Unfolds as CT Scanners Break Down at Major South African Hospital

One of South Africa’s largest public hospitals, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, is facing a dire healthcare crisis as vital CT scanners remain inoperable due to a breakdown and the failure to renew maintenance contracts.

The revelation comes from a courageous whistleblower doctor who exposes the alarming impact on patient care and even fatalities resulting from the scanner debacle.

For nearly three weeks, the hospital has been grappling with the absence of functional CT scanners, critically affecting the delivery of healthcare services.

Computed tomography (CT) scans are essential diagnostic imaging procedures that utilize X-rays and computer technology to produce detailed images of the internal structures of the body.

The anonymous doctor, fearing victimization, disclosed that the scanner issues date back to 2023, describing the situation as “horrifying and gross mismanagement.”

The hospital, which normally relies on multiple CT scanners, was left with only one backup scanner, leading to significant delays in patient treatment, inadequate care, and, tragically, reported deaths.

“I know of at least one patient who, owing to this, has passed away.”

“Owing to the nature of the problem, I can only assume that a significantly larger number of patients have passed away,” the whistleblower asserted.

The doctor further explained that two of the CT scanners, aged between eight and ten years, stopped working in 2023, and a newly installed, low-specification scanner proved insufficient to handle the patient load.

Shockingly, the hospital management failed to renew warranties on these machines, exacerbating the crisis.

In an attempt to manage emergency cases, hospitals typically implement a “divert” strategy, redirecting patients to nearby facilities.

However, the doctor revealed that Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital’s management has been reluctant to declare a divert status despite being fully aware of the life-threatening problem.

What’s wrong at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital

The whistleblower also shed light on delays and mismanagement in renewing contracts with the suppliers of the CT scanners, notably Philips.

Despite efforts by hospital staff to negotiate and secure renewal contracts, paperwork delayed, and contracts were left unexecuted until November/December, leaving the hospital without a viable solution.

The impact of the scanner breakdown extends beyond patient care, affecting the hospital’s overall technological infrastructure.

The picture archiving and communication system, crucial for sharing diagnostic images and reports among medical professionals, has been operating with limited functionality for nearly two years.

As patients bear the brunt of the crisis, the doctor emphasized that the situation has become “horrifying, and people are actively dying.”

Despite the partial restoration of one backup scanner, the hospital management is reportedly still delaying the repair of the other two scanners.

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