Patient dies over alleged R20 admin fee
Bheki Mlangeni Hospital staff allegedly refused to treat a man (64) because he didn't have the R20 admin fee.
Bongani Mazibuko says staff at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani, Soweto, allegedly refused to treat his 64-year-old father Bheki because he didn’t have the R20 admission fee.
According to Bongani, a doctor and a nurse told his father when he arrived in an ambulance last week Thursday that they would not touch him until he paid the fee.”
Bongani says that he only had R15 on him, and when he finally got the money after two hours he was told that his father had died 20 minutes earlier.
The Gauteng Health Department has denied this version of events, but Bongani Mazibuko has clearly been traumatised by a bad experience and a proper investigation is required.
“There seems to be a particular problem at casualty after hours, which is worsened by the temporary closure of the casualty unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for upgrading.”
“No patient should ever be turned away for lack of funds.
“We need to know the truth about this incident and firm assurance that prompt treatment of emergency patients is never delayed for any avoidable reason,” he said.
