The MCE of Health in Limpopo Province Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has been trending on social media following her encounter with a Zimbabwean patient.
The patient was at a Bela-Bela hospital in Limpopo Province.
Ramathuba told the patient that she must be treated in Zimbabwe because health facilities in Limpopo were overwhelmed.
Speaking to SABC News, Ramathuba defended her actions saying it is her responsibility to address issues related to health care of the people in Limpopo.
She said the healthcare system was overburdened by foreign nationals leaving the locals with nowhere to go for health services.
The MEC added that Limpopo is a rural Province that is facing serious challenges because of under finding.
Thus there is a backlog of people waiting for surgical operations. The locals fail to get surgery in time as beds are taken by foreign nationals.
Ramathuba said if the people of Limpopo fail to get treatment, it means the government would have failed.
She went further to say as MEC she will see that people from Mpumalanga and North West Provinces are served before serving SADC. The news was reported by SABC NEWS.
