Doctor accused of racist conduct

A medical doctor and owner of a surgery in Mokopane has to answer to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for alleged racism as it is claimed that patients are treated on the basis of race.
At the same time the South African Medical Association (Sama) has rapped the Department of Health over the knuckles for intervening. Sama claims the department is quick to interfere in private affairs while health professionals in public institutions are struggling.
Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba reportedly visited the surgery after learning about the allegations of racism. Sama Provincial Secretary, Seshoka Muila emphasised that it was wrong for the department to intervene in the matters of private health institutions and added that doctors in the public sector are struggling but the department was doing nothing about it. He further said ‘sorry’ was not enough hence the owner of the surgery should be punished.
SAHRC Provincial Manager, Victor Mavhidula confirmed that the commission received complaints in November last year and started investigating the allegations. Mavhidula and his colleague visited the institution on Friday as normal patients to see for themselves if the allegations were true.
He said upon arrival it was discovered that there were two receptionists at the facility, one white and the other black. “There are also two waiting rooms. The one on the left-hand side was full of black people while the one on the right hand side was occupied by white people. I walked in first and I was called by the black receptionist who later directed me to a waiting room meant for blacks. My colleague followed and she was assisted by the white receptionist and directed to a ‘whites only waiting room.”
Mavhidula added that there were also separate consultation rooms, kitchens and toilets. He indicated that the commission had witnesses and the owner of the surgery was arrogant and did not want to cooperate until he realised that Mavhidula was from the commission.
Mavhdula outlined that the owner apologised and emphasised that the surgery has been treating patients in this manner since its establishment in 1984. Mavhidula told Polokwane Observer that employees at the surgery also confirmed that patients are treated according to the colour of their skin.
Those dispensing medication to patients are not qualified pharmacists or pharmacist assistants and it was also discovered that some of the medication had expired. “We are not going to let this slip through. We are going to deal with the matter either according to the SAHRC mandate or take it to court. This is a very serious offence” Mavhidula said and added that the commission had requested amathuba to intervene.
Department of Health Spokesperson, Thabiso Teffo divulged that Ramathuba visited the surgery on Friday and found that medication was not stored according to norms and standards. Teffo said Voortrekker Hospital was tasked to assist the surgery in terms of storing medication and reiterated that they had no expired medication. He confirmed that those dispensing medication to patients are not qualified but stressed that the owner pledged to assist them to acquire qualifications. Teffo added that the department does not have authority to investigate racism allegations but the commission does.
When asked why the department had interfered, Teffo said it was within the department’s mandate to monitor all health institutions, both public and private. He further said the department issues licences for private health facilities and reiterated that the department had the power to shut-down a privately owned surgery.
The Health Professions Council of South Africa was contacted for comment but the communication team was unavailable. A source at the institution mentioned that a complaint regarding the surgery in question had been filed and relevant steps would be taken in due course.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za