Issued by Department of Health
28 March 2008
The Department of Health has suspended an official on allegations of corruption relating to the employment of foreign qualified doctors at public hospitals in South Africa.
The official is alleged to have been receiving bribes in order to inappropriately facilitate the employment of foreign doctors at provincial hospitals, undermining the policy prescript of the Department regarding recruitment of foreign qualified health professionals.
The Department of Health's policy is not to recruit from other African and developing countries that have human resource challenges. This is a principled decision that was taken so as to avoid weakening the health systems of other countries.
The Department is conducting further internal investigations on the matter and has also reported to the South African Police Services.
Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation of this matter can call the National Anti-Corruption Hotline on: 0800 701 701. Confidentiality will be maintained.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161