By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng Department of Health issued a warning to the public on Monday, urging them to not fall prey to bogus healthcare practitioners who ask for money before offering their services.
This is after a woman was caught trying to solicit a bribe from a patient at Chris JHani Baragwanath in Johannesburg, on Sunday night.
According to the Health Department, the bogus doctor demanded R700 to provide “assistance” to the patient.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the bogus doctor was busted after failing to produce her Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration number.
“The member of the public became suspicious when the bogus doctor, who was wearing green scrubs with the name Dr Zulu imprinted on the uniform, advised her to meet at the pedestrian gate where the said payment was to be made.
“The escort notified the security personnel, who eventually apprehended the bogus doctor at the hospital’s pedestrian gate.
“When asked to produce her Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration number and a personnel number by the security and facility management, the bogus doctor was unable to do so,” says Modiba.
A case has since been opened at the Diepkloof police station.
“The bogus doctor spent a night in custody and was due to appear at the Orlando Magistrate’s Court this (Monday) afternoon.
“If there are any fees payable in the hospital, this will be done at patient administration, and an invoice will be issued to indicate exactly what the patient is paying for,” Modiba adds.
Meanwhile several hospitals and clinics in Gauteng have activated alternative numbers after Telkom cut phone lines due to unpaid bills.
The telecommunications provider disconnected phone lines due to what is claimed to be outstanding payments by the Gauteng Health Department.
A total of 83 clinics and 32 hospitals were affected.
Gauteng Health said the delayed payments were due to several discrepancies where Telkom would send invoices with descriptions of facilities that do not belong to the department.
Modiba said R4 million was paid last week, with another R3.4 million due to be released on Monday.
“We continue to engage with Telkom to find an amicable way of attending to the disputes without impacting service delivery, especially given that the department has indicated that it intends to honour its commitments where invoices are not in question.
Elsewhere essential service providers draped in their scrubs bearing titles such as doctor, dietician, physiotherapist and nurse marched to the Union Buildings on Monday to demand the government address unemployment in the health sector.
The South African Medical Trade Union march comes on the backdrop of another protest in Pietermaritzburg this month, where over 80 unemployed doctors demonstrated at the health department’s offices in KwaZulu-Natal over the same issue.
The cohort is made up mostly of doctors, some of whom are employed but sympathise with their unemployed colleagues.
Having revealed some of their demands contained in the memorandum, Dr Dzudzanani Marubini said the government needs to stop cutting corners and employ healthcare workers.
“We started realising they’re not taking into consideration that we must be in the forefront of supplying the constitutional management of basic human rights.”
Last month, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla noted the unemployment of hundreds of doctors across the country, highlighting the financial challenges facing the health sector.