Hospital CEO accused of refusing treatment

THE department of health had dismissed the DA’s call to suspend Musina Hospital’s acting chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Allick Dube, for refusing to give anitretrovirals (ARV’s) to foreigners.

DA limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said Dube was appointed three months ago as the acting CEO despite patients, employees and local health organisations lodging a complaint with the department.

“According to reports in the DA’s possession, Dube is being accused of harassing and intimidating employees and patients, especially when they are not South African citizens. He allegedly refuses to give care to some patients, especially rape survivors and newborn babies,” Smalle said.

“A task team was established to probe the allegations but no recommendations were made. The DA believes that the task team did not live up to their expectations but protected Dube despite the serious allegations he is facing. We urge the MEC to establish a new task team to probe the matter further and come up with the proper recommendations. The MEC must urgently remove Dube from his position,” Smalle said.

Health spokesperson, Macks Lesufi, said Dube refused to give foreigners ARV’s because they allegedly returned to their countries and sold the ARV’s for around R5 000 per pack. He said the department was aware that the issue was being pushed by a foreign NGO, which was funded by the US. Dube was previously convicted of manslaughter in the US and served three years of a 15-year-sentence. The NGO claimed Dube broke his parole by moving to South Africa and practising medicine.

Lesufi said anyone with evidence that Dube committed a crime in the USA should come forward to give evidence to Interpol. “Dube shouldn’t be intimidated and he should be allowed to continue working at the Musina Hospital,” he said.