An influential group of health professionals has called for an end to all disciplinary action against paediatrician Tim de Maayer and an inquiry into the officials who targeted him for raising the alarm about the desperate state of the hospital in which he worked.
De Maayer was placed on precautionary suspension earlier this month by Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital CEO Nozuko Mkabayi after he wrote an open letter about the deteriorating conditions at the facility and other public hospitals, which he said were contributing to child deaths.
His previous attempts to raise his concerns with management had fallen on deaf ears. De Maayer’s suspension was lifted after a public outcry, but he now faces a disciplinary process that could lead to his dismissal.
Now 137 leading figures in the health sector, including activists, scientists, doctors, academics, former high-ranking health department officials and senior executives from private hospital groups have written an open letter to health minister Joe Phaahla and Gauteng premier David Makhura, condemning De Maayer’s treatment.
“We wish it to be known that we will actively oppose victimisation of healthcare workers and do all we can to protect their right to expose administrative actions that negatively affect their ability to comply with their ethical responsibilities,” said the signatories to the letter, published online today by Business Day.
Among the signatories are Progressive Health Forum activists Fazel Randera and Aslam Dasoo; former health director-general Precious Matsoso and former health deputy directors-general Yogan Pillay, Gail Andrews and Terence Carter; Life Healthcare CEO Peter Wharton-Hood; Mediclinic COO Koert Pretorius and chief marketing officer Biren Vilodia; Medical Research Council president Glenda Gray; former Health Professions Council of SA head Kgosi Letlape; former Bonitas medical scheme principal officer Bobby Ramasia; Wits health dean Shabir Madhi, and scores of SA’s top medical specialists.
The conditions of service that prevent public health sector employees from speaking out about its deficiencies are reminiscent of apartheid-era practices to stifle dissent, they said.
“Victimisation of healthcare professionals who expose the profound administrative deficiencies plaguing public health facilities is accelerating the outward migration of health professionals who can no longer endure the moral injury caused by working in conditions that violates their ethical obligations,” they said, calling for the establishment of a Public Health Administration Review Committee to reconfigure provincial health departments and devolve more authority to hospital boards and appoint appropriately skilled hospital CEOs and managers.
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