LIMPOPO – The nurse was convicted on Friday, 11 August 2017, to four years imprisonment or R20 000 fine.
The Department of Health has welcomed the conviction after the nursing assistant stole the ARV’s at Botlokwa Clinic, which the department says is in direct contravention of the Medicine and Related Substances Act 101 of 1996.
“Our efforts in fighting corruption, which in our case, has a direct bearing on the quality of the health services we dispense, is indeed bearing fruit and this is thanks to a close working relations between the Department of Health and our reliable Law Enforcement Agencies,” it said in a statement.
The department says whilst they had held the nurse to be innocent until proven guilty, they are convinced that convicted corrupt criminals do not have space in their business of saving lives.
It is now waiting on the South African Nursing Council’s (SANC) processes.
“We are not going to risk the innocent lives of our patients, to be stolen by rogue elements in our midst, and as a result, we are only going to remain with the faithful within our ranks,” it said.
The department concluded by saying they condemn, in strongest terms, any act of sabotage, from professional criminals, who have taken an oath to advocate for patients whilst saving lives.
