Calls for reinstatement of state doctor who blew the whistle at Rahima Moosa hospital

NEWS

Wits University has called for the immediate reinstatement of Dr Tim de Maayer, a paediatric gastroenterologist who was suspended by the CEO of the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital yesterday.

De Maayer’s suspension came a month after he wrote an open letter to the Gauteng health department about the apparently appalling conditions at the hospital.

In the letter, De Maayer wrote:

“How about excluding a mother-and-child hospital from your load shedding schedule? Our generators are, unfortunately, inadequately sized to supply the hospital.”

The university said it was appalled to learn of the suspension, and was calling for the unconditional and immediate reinstatement of De Maayer.

Professor Shabir Madhi, the dean of Wits University’s faculty of health science, said this was a ludicrous situation.

Madhi added that the university had been in contact with the Gauteng department of health since the suspension was announced.

He said they were optimistic that the suspension would be rescinded, and threatened that the department’s failure to lift the suspension would propel the university to plan for a public protest in support of De Maayer.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi said that she had been made aware of the precautionary suspension. On Thursday, she said she would engage with the hospital management and other parties concerned.

“The Gauteng department of health once again acknowledges the issues previously raised by Dr De Maayer. The department concedes that there are challenges within the health system in the province and in the country in general, which require multifaceted interventions. The department remains committed to tackling these challenges while continuing to render services to millions of patients annually.”

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