FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
29 July 2020
Corruption threatening patient care – SA Medical Association
Ongoing reports of alleged corruption in government – specifically in relation to the provision of medical supplies as a result of COVID-19 – are deeply unsettling, and pose a threat to the provision of proper medical care to patients. This is the view of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) which says improprieties in medical tenders not only damage the country’s economy and reputation, but its ability to care for the sick.
“Over the past few weeks there have been numerous reports of alleged wrongdoing and corruption. The most recent high-profile case involves the spokesperson to the President. As a professional body representing doctors we take a strong stand against these purported abuses,” says Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of SAMA.
She says SAMA concurs with the President that “More so than at any other time, corruption puts lives at risk” but that this sentiment remains hollow without meaningful, transparent, and visible action, particularly from the highest office in the country.
“As doctors we are on the frontline of fighting coronavirus every day – putting our own and our family’s lives at risk every time we report for work to assist the sick. When medical equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE) is the focus of an alleged wrongdoing we expect immediate and urgent action. Unless it is done, and seen to be done, irregularities will continue, and continue to burden an already over-stretched health sector,” she says.
Dr Coetzee notes that the latest reports follow a string of similar incidents including the disastrous medical scooter debacle in the Eastern Cape, lack of proper equipment in state hospitals across the country, and companies being established specifically to do business with health departments to secure relief funding, even though they lack proper experience in the sector.
“The list goes on and on. There is clearly no accountability in government nor, apparently, a political will to deal with corruption. If there was, we believe, the strong message would have been supported by equally strong action which we don’t see. There are many occasions were corruption is evident yet no action is taken and we are stunned by the seemingly non-interventionist approaches to these incidents,” says Dr Coetzee.
Of particular concern to SAMA, apart from the allegations of abuse, is the continued poor state of healthcare in the country which is not improving, and which is in desperate need of significant funding to correct.
“The billions of Rands which have allegedly been siphoned off of legitimate channels has the effect that doctors and other healthcare workers are treating patients without the proper PPE, are having to work without proper equipment to diagnose patients, and the patients themselves have to suffer more in the often pitiful wards of dysfunctional hospitals. We can simply not continue like this, something has to give,” notes Dr Coetzee.
Dr Coetzee says in response SAMA is again urging all healthcare workers and administrators who have evidence of wrongdoing to come forward and report abuse. She says it’s also critical that where equipment is lacking it is brought to the attention of those in charge.
“We have to begin taking stock in every hospital and every clinic in our country. If there are violations of procedures, and healthcare workers are struggling without the necessary equipment or medicines, we urge them to report these; without this critical on-the-ground information our situation may never improve,” concludes Dr Coetzee.
Notes to Editors
About SAMA
The South African Medical Association was formally constituted on 21 May 1998 as a unification of a variety of doctors’ groups that had represented a diversity of interests. SAMA is a non-statutory, professional association for public, and private sector medical practitioners. SAMA is a voluntary membership association, existing to serve the best interests and needs of its members in any and all healthcare related matters.
Contact:
Head of PR & Communications
Dr Simonia Magardie
082 905 8505
Email: simoniam@samedical.org
Spokesperson 1
Chairperson: SAMA
Dr A Coetzee
082 379 8118
Email: dr.coetzee@worldonline.co.za
Spokesperson 2
Vice-Chairperson: SAMA
Dr M Mzukwa
076 382 8152
Email: mzukwam@gmail.com