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MEC slams 'tsotsis' masquerading as doctors

Specialist medical doctors at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital were among those implicated in looting public funds, costing the Gauteng government more than R100 million in unlawful overtime claims. This was revealed by MEC for Health Hope Papo at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in reply to questions about the resignation of doctors at the hospital.

Democratic Alliance spokesman on health Jack Bloom had wanted to know the number of anaesthetists who had resigned or given notice to resign. He wanted a breakdown of the medics' specialities, including reasons for their resignation. Papo came out with guns blazing, accusing some of the doctors of being "tsotsis (thugs)" who survived on irregular overtime claims. He told the legislature that 11 anaesthetists had left the institution this year. Papo said the hospital had in addition lost a dermatologist, three doctors in surgery, four in radiology, one in internal medicine and a paediatrician. He said their reasons for leaving differed, adding that two doctors from radiology had left because of personal reasons and two others had asked for transfers.

Papo said some of the specialists had resigned soon after hospital chief executive Gladys Bogoshi lodged an investigation into fraudulent claims. He said Bogoshi's investigation had saved the Gauteng Health Department more than R120 million after the claims stopped. Papo said the doctors did not want to register that they were at work or use a clocking system. Some of them claimed that they were lecturing at a medical school, but failed to provide a letter from the school's head of department. He said they must contribute 40 hours' work before they could claim overtime. Papo added that the departure of the specialists would have little effect on the running of the hospital, and that plans were in place to appoint new doctors. He also said his department had developed various programmes to retain skilled staff in the hospital. Papo said the millions lost due to fraudulent claims could have been used to employ more doctors and nurses.

Baldwin Ndaba: The Star, 28 May 2013