Suspended KZN health Department head quits

AMID ongoing interventions to deal with the oncology crisis in KZN, Premier Willies Mchunu says he has accepted the resignation of KZN Health Department head, Dr Sifiso Mtshali.

Dr Mtshali was recently suspended pending an investigation into issues relating to repairs of oncology machines.

‘It was alleged that the appointment of KZN Oncology to repair machines at Addington Hospital was irregular and illegal. The allegations had attracted widespread publicity and public criticism,’ Mchunu said in a statement on Thursday.

‘Legal action has been taken by the Department of Health to set aside the agreement with KZN Oncology, and to reclaim funds already paid.

‘I felt it prudent to suspend Dr Mtshali pending the outcome of enquiries.’

While Mtshali, the former Chief Executive Officer of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, has not admitted to any wrongdoing, he did however offer to resign if the provincial government had lost confidence in him.

‘As the executive authority responsible for heads of department, I accepted the resignation given the seriousness of the allegations, as well as to avoid further legal and forensic costs being incurred – and to bring finality to the issue.

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‘I have discussed the matter informally with the MEC for Finance and the MEC for Health, and it was agreed that it was in the interests of all concerned to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion and to restore stability,’ said Mchunu.

The oncology services at some of the province’s public hospitals have recently been placed under spotlight with the SAHRC report in June finding that the Department of Health had failed to provide patients access to adequate services.

Among the efforts to improve services, the Department of Health has partnered with the Joint Medical Holdings group in Richards Bay to improve services to patients. As a result, 43 patients are on chemotherapy treatment, 64 on radiation, 31 on the waiting list and 10 in palliative care.

Patients are offered chemotherapy at Lower Umfolozi Hospital and then transported to the Richards Bay Medical Institute.

The department is also working on importing oncologists from Cuba and India.

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