National / Health Health MEC quits, officials face disciplinary action after psychiatric patients starve to death BL PREMIUM

The head of the Gauteng health department and other senior officials identified in the Health Ombudsman’s report on the deaths of 94 psychiatric patients, will face disciplinary action, Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced on Wednesday. “I have instructed the director-general in the office of the premier to urgently institute appropriate action to deal with the recommendations for the Ombudsman,” Makhura said. “There can be no passing of the buck.” The premier said he would urgently implement all recommendations made by the ombudsman. In the meantime, all patients currently placed at NGOs would be transferred back to public healthcare facilities and state-owned institutions so that their specialised needs were catered for. This would happen in the next seven days and be concluded in 45 days. Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu resigned on Tuesday night ahead of the official release of the report. Makhura said he had accepted her resignation. “Like all members of our provincial executive c...