Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
12 May 2023 | 19:44 CAT

Photo credit: News24

While the country awaits the introduction of the NHI, public hospitals in Gauteng continue to make news for all the wrong reasons, with conditions for patients and staff continuing to deteriorate. A written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Nomanthu Nkomo-Ralehoko to a question by the DA’s spokesperson Jack Bloom on Health indicated nine acting CEOs in public hospitals.

The written reply revealed that nine out of 37 Gauteng Public Hospitals have an acting CEO, as the former has either left or been suspended.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, the DA’s Jack Bloom said there are acting CEOs at major hospitals, which include the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. The Kopanong and South Rand hospitals have been without a CEO for more than a year, and the CEOs of Tembisa and Pretoria West hospitals are currently suspended, awaiting discipline.

Bloom raises concerns that one out of four Gauteng public hospitals have acting CEOs with limited authority to fix a failing health system that patients suffer from.

He said having an acting CEO might be deliberate, as people can do all sorts of things they shouldn’t do. There’s plenty of corruption in our hospitals, and the appointment of a strong CEO who’s permanently appointed is a threat to people who would want to steal money from hospital tenders.

There are various reasons for the state of affairs. Resignation, retirement, a transfer and CEOs are suspended for suspected corruption and the expiration of contracts in two cases.

Meanwhile, the recent Ombud report on Rahima Moosa Hospital was critical of poor processes in appointing hospital CEOs.

The best people must be appointed speedily so that all hospitals have competent and honest CEOs instead of cadre deployments whose incompetence causes suffering to patients.

Listen to the full interview with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie on Your World Today.