The South African Medical Association has appealed for visible action, particularly from the “highest office in the land” to deal with allegations of corruption in the provision of medical supplies as a result of COVID-19.
SAMA said in a statement this week that these allegations were deeply unsettling and posed a threat to the provision of proper medical care to patients.
“Over the past few weeks, there have been numerous reports of alleged wrongdoing and corruption. The most recent high-profile case involves the spokesperson to the President,” said SAMA chairperson, Dr. Angelique Coetzee.
She said the medical association agreed with the President that “more so than at any other time, corruption puts lives at risk”, but Dr. Coetzee said this sentiment remained hollow without meaningful, transparent, and visible action, particularly from the highest office in the country.
“As doctors we are on the frontline of fighting coronavirus every day, putting our own and our family’s lives at risk every time we report for work to assist the sick. When medical equipment such as personal protective equipment is the focus of alleged wrongdoing we expect immediate and urgent action.”
Coetzee said that latest reports follow a string of similar incidents including the disastrous medical scooter debacle in the Eastern Cape, lack of proper equipment in state hospitals across the country, and companies being established specifically to do business with health departments to secure relief funding, even though they lack proper experience.
“There is clearly no accountability in government nor, apparently, a political will to deal with corruption. If there was, we believe, the strong message would have been supported by equally strong action which we don’t see,” said Dr. Coetzee.
SAMA is again urging all healthcare workers and administrators who have evidence of wrongdoing to come forward and report abuse.
