Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT will take disciplinary measures against medical doctors who transfer patients from public hospitals to their private practice.
Legislators in last Wednesday’s National Assembly Question and Answer session demanded to know how the Government was dealing with doctors who were transferring patients from public hospitals to private practice.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said it was illegal to force patients to transfer from public hospitals and anyone doing so will be investigated.
“When such cases arise, the patient is requested to put in writing that they are leaving Government hospital against medical advice to go and get treatment elsewhere. So, my advice is that when such cases arise, where a Government medical practitioner is referring a patient to his private practice, please let us know so that appropriate and disciplinary action can be taken,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He said it is expected that patients in Government hospitals are supposed to follow treatment protocols in Government hospitals.
Dr Mombeshora said it was however not illegal for doctors in public hospitals to run private practice.
“However, we understand that some doctors who are working in Government hospitals have private practice. It is allowed at a certain level, especially the consultancy, to have private practice, but it is not allowed to transfer patients that you have seen in Government to your private practice; unless the patient has insisted that they no longer want to be treated in a Government hospital,” he said.
-@nqotshili
Online Reporter