adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Government has fired the medical superintendent at Chiredzi District Hospital and ordered the immediate transfer of two senior doctors after they were accused of dereliction of duty that caused the death of seven patients. They were also accused of negligence and absenteeism.
Dr Paul Ngere, the medical superintendent and two senior medical practitioners, Dr Tungamirai Rukatya and a Dr Dube were early this year under probe by the Ministry of Health and Child Care following complaints of rampant absenteeism from work and negligence of duty.
Dr Rukatya and Dr Dube were eventually suspended, but reinstated after being given final written warnings.
Sources in the Ministry of Health and Child Care revealed on Wednesday that Dr Ngere would be leaving his post as chief medical officer after the Health Services Board did not renew his contract.
Dr Ngere was working on a yearly renewable contract as he had reached retirement age.
The sources said Dr Rukatya and Dr Dube were transferred to Masvingo General Hospital where they are supposed to work under close supervision from senior and experienced doctors.
Acting Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Amadeous Shamu confirmed the transfer of the pair to Masvingo General Hospital.
He said Dr Ngere was leaving his post after his contract was not renewed.
“Dr Dube is supposed to report to Masvingo General Hospital any time from now,” said Dr Shamu.
“That is where he is supposed to start working, while Dr Rukatya will report at Masvingo General Hospital once he returns from leave.
“As for Dr Ngere, we cannot say he was fired because he was working on a contract basis, but this time the board did not opt to renew his contract citing his age, they opted to look for a younger replacement.’’
Dr Shamu said a new team of Government doctors would soon be deployed to Chiredzi District Hospital.
The three were probed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care following complaints from patients over their conduct.
They were accused of negligence that was suspected to have caused seven avoidable deaths out of the 18 that were recorded at Chiredzi Hospital last year.
In April this year, the Ministry of Health and Child Care dispatched a team of investigators at three district hospitals across Masvingo Province following reports of negligence and rampant absenteeism from work.
The investigations led to the immediate transfer of one medical officer from Chivi District Hospital to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
Online Reporter