Call to hold resigned health MEC accountable
HEALTH professionals want Qedani Mahlangu to be held accountable for the “disgraceful‚ unprofessional and inhumane way” she handled the treatment of state psychiatric patients‚ despite her resignation as Gauteng Health MEC yesterday.
“The findings by Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba on the deaths of 94 psychiatric patients in Gauteng last year are extremely disturbing and concerning‚” the South African Medical Association (Sama) said.
Makgoba found that 94 patients died as result of being transferred from the Life Esidemeni facility in Randburg to non-governmental facilities in the province.
The Gauteng health department had made the decision to cut costs‚ Sama noted.
Sama chairman Dr Mzukisi Grootboom said: “The disgraceful‚ unprofessional and inhumane way the MEC dealt with this situation warranted nothing less than her removal.
“However‚ we believe‚ now that the ombudsman’s report is out‚ further investigations are needed to not only finally deal with the actions of the former MEC but also those officials associated with the transfers.
“Former MEC Mahlangu cannot simply resign and walk away from this. She‚ and other officials in the department‚ have to be held accountable.
“What happened with these patients is a national tragedy on a massive scale and everything must be done to prevent something similar from happening again.”
Sama noted that the ombudsman’s report stated officials had acted negligently in moving the patients.
While it welcomed Gauteng premier David Makhura’s statement that he views the improper and negligent actions of officials in a serious light‚ the medical association said that “must lead to serious consequences and accountability”.
The association has also welcomed the decision by Makhura to move all patients currently placed in NGOs back to public healthcare.
“This is an important step by the premier because it sends the dual message that is important to care properly for mentally ill patients‚ and that the province is willing to fund their continued proper treatment,” Sama said. — TMG