‘Limpopo health facilities don’t meet basic standards’ – Doctors

Doctors based in Limpopo during a Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) meeting at Pietersburg Provincial Hospital on Monday alleged that most health facilities in the province don’t meet the basic standards to operate and thus put people’s lives at risk.
Reportedly most public health institutions in Limpopo deserve to be closed because the conditions are not conducive for doctors or patients.
The gathering was addressed by HPCSA ombudsman and acting Chief Operating Officer, Munyadziwa Kwinda who stated that doctors should always act in the best interest of the patient regardless of a shortage of resources. He responded to doctors on the floor mentioning that poor health infrastructure continues to limit them to deliver basic health services to the people.
Kwinda said challenges in the public sector will continue but professionals can’t fold their arms and watch residents suffer. He emphasised that the council has been mandated by Parliament to consult or advise the Ministry of Health on any matters affecting the health profession. The council is still working on channels that doctors can use to report misconduct and/or bad treatment from their seniors, he stated.
Kwinda added that the law only protects medical interns because they still lack experience but experienced doctors just have to sacrifice and use whatever resources available to serve communities.
Doctors were advised to guard against unlawful instructions from their superiors. To this a doctors responded that he had been victimised after rejecting an instruction from his seniors last year and while acting in the best interest of the patient.
Kwinda stressed that unlawful instructions are not recorded in black and white making it difficult for doctors to prove their case. He concluded by saying doctors are caught between two rocks being the employer and patient but reiterated that patients come first.

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