Anti-Corruption Group Wants Doctors Banned From Operating Private Surgeries
The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) says doctors who work in government hospitals should not be allowed to operate private businesses such as private hospitals, pharmacies and others as it may be in conflict with their duties and responsibilities.
ACT-SA director, Obert Chinhamo said medical personnel employed by the government now spend most of their business hours working at their private businesses thereby negatively affecting service delivery in government hospitals. Chinhamo was quoted by Health Times as saying:
ACT-SA is disturbed by reports that medical personnel especially doctors spend most of their time at their private establishments when they are supposed to be at government hospitals.
Sick patients queue for long hours waiting for them to come. In some cases, even when they come, they refer patients to their private businesses where these poor patients are forced to pay a lot of money.
My organisation proposes that no medical personnel should be allowed to open private businesses that conflict with their duties and responsibilities as civil servants.
In addition to improved remuneration, this is the only way that medical personnel could be found at work all the time when their services are needed most.
ACT-SA has for several years been receiving reports that doctors and other medical personnel are not found at work when patients come.
These patients who can not afford paying private doctors queue for long hours without being served.
It it because of this observation that ACT-SA calls for policy and law reform to prevent conflict of interest and improve service delivery.
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