EAST LONDON - The Eastern Cape Health Department reportedly revealed in the provincial legislature that patients needing orthopedic surgery could wait up to 10 years.
This alarming statement means patients are living through the agony of waiting to be operated on or for other medical treatment.
In some cases, a lack of oxygen is proving life-threatening to those who are gasping for air.
The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape says the health department is struggling to pay off debt to essential service providers, and that poses a serious danger to patients.
But the Eastern Cape Health Department says while it is working on covering its outstanding debt to service providers, it will continue doing everything in its power to provide the best healthcare for its patients.
* eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.