Steve Biko hospital denies not paying doctors

Steve Biko Academic Hospital has denied claims that it did not pay doctors last month, Pretoria East Rekord reports.

Gauteng DA health spokesperson Dr Neil Campbell claimed that four community doctors at the hospital had not been paid since January.

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“A note dated 29 January from the hospital HR department informed these doctors they would receive no salary as there were no community services posts available at the hospital,” Campbell said, adding this was despite the national department of health confirming the appointments at the beginning of January and the doctors fulfilling their obligations.

But hospital spokesperson Lovey Mogapi said: “All community service doctors who were appointed in Steve Biko Academic Hospital as of 1 January were paid.”

The posts were created for qualified health professionals who were required to work in the public sector in lieu of payment for educational loans extended to them by the government.

But Campbell said: “On 2 February, the hospital CEO offered them a ‘loan’ to assist them with expenses but stated that because the Gauteng department of health has no money, they did not have posts, and would not be paid as a decision still had to taken as to where and when posts would be made available and in which province.”

He called on MEC for health Dr Gwen Ramokgopa to address the problem immediately.

“Ramokgopa must rectify this fiasco immediately as these doctors have a crucial role to play in ensuring the well-being of the province’s residents,” said Campbell.

The hospital was recently named the leading central hospital in Gauteng.

The provincial department of health was not immediately available for comment.

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