# Cancer Patient Crowdfunds Scan After Hospital Equipment Failure Equipment malfunctions at Livingstone Hospital force patients to seek private diagnostic services. - **Source:** [Daily Maverick](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5028b9b1-7c02-4824-9d54-110a06b4fdf0 ## Diagnostic Equipment Failure Charmaine van den Berg, a 70-year-old breast cancer patient, faced significant delays at Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha. When she arrived for a critical CT scan on 8 October, both hospital scanners were non-functional. This equipment failure left her and other patients in a state of uncertainty regarding their essential diagnostic care. ## Technical and Supply Challenges Livingstone Hospital CEO Tembisa Notshe confirmed the emergency department scanner broke on 5 October due to a technical fault. Repairs were delayed because replacement components had to be sourced from overseas. The device was eventually returned to service on 4 November, nearly a month after the initial breakdown occurred at the facility. ## Financial Burden on Patients Relying on a social grant, Van den Berg could not afford private imaging, which can cost up to R25,000. Her family turned to public crowdfunding to secure the R7,000 deposit required for a private scan. This highlights the severe financial strain placed on vulnerable patients when public healthcare infrastructure fails to function. ## Governance and Oversight Issues Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka conducted an unannounced visit to the hospital on 22 October during the outage. She identified serious problems regarding governance, leadership, and management at the tertiary facility. These findings underscore systemic administrative challenges that complicate the delivery of essential medical services within the Eastern Cape public health system. ## Mitigation and Referral Efforts During the scanner outage, the hospital referred approximately 26 patients to a private provider, Bay Radiology, covering the associated costs. CEO Notshe maintained that no adverse patient outcomes, such as deaths or permanent disabilities, were recorded due to the delays. However, patients remained deeply concerned about the risks of disease progression. ## Equipment Donation Complications The FNB Foundation previously offered to donate CT scanners to the provincial health department in March 2025. Administrative delays and contract overlaps meant the equipment was redirected to other services. Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the failed emergency scanner has committed to providing a new mobile unit within three months at no cost. ## Patient Resilience Amid Crisis Despite the diagnostic delays, Van den Berg has commenced her first round of chemotherapy. She maintains a proactive stance against her diagnosis, even involving her grandchildren in shaving her hair. Her experience reflects the emotional and physical toll that systemic healthcare failures place on families navigating a cancer diagnosis in South Africa. ## Broader Healthcare Implications The incident at Livingstone Hospital serves as a case study for the fragility of public diagnostic infrastructure. While emergency referrals provided a temporary safety net, the reliance on crowdfunding suggests gaps in service continuity. Future stability depends on improved equipment maintenance protocols and more efficient administrative management of critical medical assets. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-10-cancer-patient-turns-to-crowdfunding-after-gqeberha-hospitals-scanners-fail/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._