Hospital staff fired for theft
"Anyone found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with harshly."
The Gauteng Department of Health has today announced the dismissal of two officials for stealing medicine valued at R36 000.
The incident occurred at the Tembisa Tertiary Hospital last year.
“A pharmacist assistant and a laundry worker were caught stealing 48 boxes of Epilim CR, used for the treatment of bipolar disorder, psychotic conditions and for nerve related pain). The pair also took 35 boxes of Sandoz-Co amoxyclov, which is used for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia, upper and lower respiratory infection and otitis media. They also took 40 boxes of lansoloc, which is used for the treatment of epigastric pains and general ulcers, and 49 boxes of Loviri, used for the treatment of herpes simplex, varicella-zoster viruses and genital infections),” said the Gauteng Department of Health’s spokesperson, Mr Steve Mabona.
“The dismissal follows an investigations into cases of fraud and misconduct at provincial hospitals,” said Mr Mabona.
He said the department dismissed six officials for various transgressions.
“The department also fired four other officials for other misdemeanours, such as collusion in the management of mortuary corpses at Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital; accepting a position for which the official had not applied for at the same facility (financial clerk) and falsification of employer’s documents in order to mislead the employer to believe that the official was at work while he had not reported for duty,” said Mr Mabona.
“An administration clerk was fired at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital for payment of overtime to another employee without following due process, which led to irregular expenditure of overtime payments.”
The MEC for Health, Ms Qedani Mahlangu, said it disheartened her that people continue to commit such offences.
“I will not hesitate to throw the book at anyone who has been found to have transgressed,” said MEC Mahlangu.
“I can never emphasise enough the importance for public officials to carry themselves in an exemplary manner while executing their duties. At times people are driven by pure greed to misrepresent their overtime and stealing from their work place.
“Anyone found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with harshly,” warned MEC Mahlangu.
