By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg has lifted the suspension of Paediatrician Dr Tim De Maayer.
De Maayer was placed on precautionary suspension after he wrote an open letter to the Gauteng health department, stating that the “horrendous conditions in our public hospitals” were contributing to children’s deaths.
His suspension was lifted after Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi met with him, the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital CEO Dr Nozuko Mkabayi and the head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the facility, Professor Ashraf Coovadia.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the department said the management team of Rahima Moosa had agreed to work together to continue to address the issues raised by de Maayer.
“The department remains committed to tackling challenges within the Gauteng health system while continuing to render services to millions of patients annually,” Mokgethi said.
MMC for health and social development Ashley Sauls said he had seen the “poor conditions” of the hospital first-hand when he visited the facility.
“We cannot live in a world where pointing out flaws exposing inhumane conditions by good people are met with unjust punishment. This hospital is dealing with humanitarian issues, and these issues need to be known and need to be addressed publicly and honestly for the thousands of people making use of this facility.
“This is another example of how facilities are being run without truth and transparency, and I cannot stand for that.
“I met the CEO of the hospital, and we agreed that they will deal with the issues, and I committed that myself and my office would assist where we can,” Sauls said.