Ramakgopa committed to restoring department's reputation

The newly-appointed Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa updated journalists on her department's implementation of the Health Ombudsman's recommendations today. 

It was the report by Professor Malegapuru Makgoba that revealed that at least 94 mental healthcare patients died after they were moved to 27 different NOGs across Gauteng. Ramokgopa's predecessor, Qedani Mahlangu, resigned the night before the report was released.

Pieter van der Merwe reports.

Of the 18 recommendations by the Health Ombudsman, six were directed at the Gauteng Health Department. "I would like to confirm that the deinstitutionalisation project has been stopped. The head of department and the Director for Mental Health Services are on precautionary leave," says Ramokgopa, adding, "the disciplinary process with regards to other implicated officials ha(s) begun."

Ramokgopa says five of the 27 NGOs have been closed while the remaining 22 have been assessed. Meanwhile, the process of transferring the remaining 789 patients from the 22 NGOs is set to get underway next week.

The department will take a number of steps before moving any of these patients. Ramokgopa says apart from consulting with families, the receiving facilities will first be assessed while mental healthcare experts are also set to assess the specific patient's condition.

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But the department also wants to prevent a similar incident in the future. "Extraordinary measures, in addition to implementing the recommendations by the Health Ombuds, are being taken to rebuild the reputation of the whole Gauteng Department of Health as a humane, caring, patient centred and competent public service," says Ramokgopa.

She expressed incomprehension at how, despite South Africa's healthcare laws, policies and interventions, the state still failed its most vulnerable.

The provincial department will as a result "step back" and reassess its policies as well as the deinstitutionalization project. Ramokgopa further wants to give communities a stronger voice to "affirm the principle of participatory democracy".

The Rapid Intervention Team, set up by the department, and supported by specialists, will monitor the implementation of the six recommendations. It is also expected to provide weekly progress updates.