First On EWN: Patient placed on 7 year waiting list for surgery

In a letter from the hospital, 53-year-old Aubrey Moerane was told he should only return in November 2021.

JOHANNESBURG - Eyewitness News has learnt a patient in need of a hip replacement procedure at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto was told to come back in seven years' time for treatment.

A letter from the hospital which was given to Aubrey Moerane states that he must return in November 2021.

The letter also says the facility, which is the largest care facility in Africa, has a joint replacement waiting list of about 1,200 people.

Moerane, aged 53, says he first visited a private hospital and was told he needed urgent hip replacement, which would cost him more than R100,000.

He says he couldn't afford that and sought assistance from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital but they gave him an appointment for November 2021.

Moerane says he fears the pain will one day kill him.

"Well, because of the pain I think I'll be dead by that time. I can't stand the pain for such a long time, imagine, seven years."

The Gauteng Health Department says it's requested hospital management to investigate the matter and to contact Moerane for a checkup as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Doctor Jay Pillai, who is a medical professor at the University of the Witwatersrand says it's unacceptable for a patient in need of such surgery to be expected to wait seven years.

He says even a six month waiting period would be too long.

"No, this is highly unusual in any circumstance. In any environment, a patient who was in pain or really ill wouldn't wait six months."