Siyabonga Sithole
MEC of Health in Gauteng, Dr Nomthandazo Mokgethi has reacted to the suspension of paediatrician and whistle blower, Dr Tim Maayer who has been suspended by the Rahima Moosa Mother to Child Hospital (RMMCH).
De Maayer who last month wrote an open letter to the hospital and the department of health about the sorry state of affairs at the hospital was suspended following his critical open letter to the health authorities in the province and those at RMMCH in particular.
The MEC in a media statement on Thursday said she has been made aware of de Maayer's precautionary suspension by the hospital's management which she is engaging with to find a solution to the issues affecting the hospital.
“The Gauteng MEC for health, Dr Nomthandazo Mokgethi can confirm that she has been made aware of the precautionary suspension of Dr de Maayer by the Rahima Moosa Mother to Child Hospital. Following the decision by the facility, the MEC will be engaging the management of the hospital and other parties concerned on the matter,” said the spokesperson for the department of Kwara Kekana.
The department said it acknowledges all the issues which were raised by Dr de Maayer in his open letter while reiterating its position as recorded in their response in a statement dated 24 May 2022 about issues at the health facility.
“ The department concedes that there are challenges within the health system in the province and in the country in general which require multifaceted interventions. Gauteng Department of Health remains committed to tackling these challenges while continuing to render services to millions of its patients annually,” the department said
In his open letter, Dr De Maayer decried the many problems affecting smooth provisions of services at the hospital.
“ I wish you could be there to see the pain and grief that parents and their families go through. Children are dying and the horrendous conditions in our public hospitals are co contributing to their deaths…. How about excluding a mother and child hospital from your load shedding schedule? Our generators are not adequately sized to supply the hospital.
“ I wish you could come and explain to parents that their child needs an urgent topology scan of the brain but he is going to have to wait nearly three months. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is overflowing and Charlotte Maxeke has had a crucial part of its scanner stolen,” reads de Maayer's open letter in part.
Reacting to the news of de Maayer's suspension, Progressive Health Forum said the suspension of de Maayer must be overturned as it was akin to victimisation of someone who has shown to have a voice and a conscience to serve the public
“ Dr de Maayer has been suspended on the grounds that he has a voice, a conscience and a professional ethic and being a committed public health clinician. This pattern of victimisation has been repeatedly applied to clinicians who dare call out inadequacies of the administration and negative impact on clinicians and on the lives of patients,” the forum said in a statement.