Motsoaledi vows action after hospital failures exposed

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says government will continue acting on the Health Ombud’s findings into two patient deaths in Gauteng and is prepared to establish a tribunal if any parties dispute the report.

This follows the release of findings by the Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, into two patient deaths in Gauteng, which exposed serious lapses in care, governance and patient safety in both public and private facilities.

The investigations found that psychiatric patient Lerato Mohlamme died after a fire in a seclusion unit at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, where failures included the improper admission process, the withholding of food and medication, and inadequate fire safety measures.

A separate investigation examined the death of a newborn at Netcare Femina Hospital, where concerns were raised about the standard of care provided in the neonatal unit.

Motsoaledi said while those implicated have the right to challenge the ombud’s findings, this would not stop the state from acting.

“So people always take issues on review but the fact that they were found guilty does not mean we will stop doing what we have to do until such time that a retired judge or magistrate passes a verdict that there’s something wrong with the Health Ombud report – as long as there’s nothing like that we will take appropriate action and report to the ombud,” he said.

He said the law allows for a tribunal to be established, chaired by a retired judge or magistrate and supported by medical experts, to review the ombud’s findings if there are claims the process was flawed.

Motsoaledi also stressed that some of the conduct identified in the report could not be blamed on infrastructure or resource constraints.

“Refusing, withholding food… has got nothing to do with infrastructure. It's just outright inhuman,” he said.

He added that withholding medication was “a cardinal sin” and said such matters would be referred to professional bodies for disciplinary action.

ActionSA MP Dr Kgosi Letlape welcomed the findings, saying they confirmed long-standing concerns about the state of South Africa’s healthcare system.

“The findings of the Health Ombud confirm what patients, healthcare workers, and communities have been saying for years,” Letlape said.