The Western Cape's Independent Health Complaints Committee (IHCC) is dysfunctional. In personal correspondence in September, head of department Dr Beth Engelbrecht said there are “logistical” problems with committee member appointments, whatever that means. Complaints that had been referred to it – I don’t know how many others apart from ours – have been cancelled. Complainants should refer them to the public protector, national health ombudsman and SA Human Rights Commission. She didn't answer when I asked when she expected the IHCC's problems to be resolved and if my complaint would be investigated then. The IHCC’s enabling provincial act does not provide for cancelling complaints that had already been submitted, which makes the cancellation illegal. It's also probable our complaint was the only one cancelled, which if so, is highly irregular. I doubt Engelbrecht's explanation is true, though, because chapter 2, section 18 of the National Health ...
Blog on medical and health matters with a focus on the Western Cape's public health system.