MEC warns lazy CEO’s to ‘shape up or ship out’
MEC for Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba has warned CEO's of hospitals and clinics in the province that she would not hesitate to fire them should they neglect the work that they have been appointed to do.
LIMPOPO – Speaking during the official opening of Kremetart Clinic in Giyani on Friday, the MEC said it was embarrassing that she was called to address issues that could have been addressed by a CEO.
“Some don’t even know the status of their clinics, they hear it from me first,” she said.
“Your qualification will not help you, if you cannot help people that you have been employed to help. If found on the wrong side of the law, I would simply remove you without wasting time, because I cannot afford to have incompetent CEO’s,” she said.
She said she will not back down even if the CEO’s run to the unions to seek refuge.
“You can even go to the unions and tell them that “the MEC says she will fire us if we don’t do our jobs,” she continued saying most strikes are due to the fact that CEO’s have failed to address challenges.
“Your workers are on strike every now and then because you’re not doing your job, if you were monitoring everything and ensured that they have all the equipment they need to execute their work there would be less strikes,” she said.
The MEC warned that the CEO’s should also not ignore complaints from patients as they will be exposed if the patients decide to take the matter further. “If a patient brings a complaint to you and you sit on it, the likelihood is that the patient would take the matter to the department or to the media, and if they come to me that would mean a vote of no confidence in you,” she said.
The new Kremetart Clinic, which operates from 07:00 to 16:00 from Monday to Friday, the MEC said she was glad that even though the clinic does not render 24hr service, it was still able to offer help in case of an emergency, saying this meant that pregnant women would not be turned away.
“We don’t need the tendency of chasing away pregnant women in labour when the operating hours are over. Just deliver the baby and then call me to complain that you did not receive your overtime money. I will be the one with egg on my face and you will be a hero,” she said, urging even the security guards to help in cases of an emergency.
“Let me read a story in the newspaper saying an
off-duty nurse helped to deliver a baby. As a woman assist you fellow woman in labour, don’t just turn them away because the clinic is closed.
“Why are traffic cops delivering babies on the N1, and you can’t do it here,” she concluded.
