A warning has been issued to both staff and the public by the Gauteng Department of Health that anyone asking for money to help patients bypass scheduling processes will face strict action under anti-corruption legislation, according to a Soweto Urban report in The Citizen.
It said bribery, corruption and queue-jumping at public healthcare facilities will not be tolerated, after complaints that some patients might be paying officials to bypass queues when scheduling appointments, accessing patient files and collecting medication from pharmacies.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said patients must access services through established processes, and that “credible complaints” involving staff soliciting or accepting bribes would be investigated.
“Anyone who is asked for a bribe, or who has information about officials involved in such activities, must report this immediately. Patients are encouraged to report incidents while they are still at the health facility by approaching the Office of the CEO or the Quality Assurance Office,” he said.
Mabona urged patients not to remain silent when confronted with corruption. Reporting such incidents would help protect patients, strengthen accountability and ensure healthcare services are provided fairly and without discrimination.
The department reiterated that public healthcare services are not for sale. “No patient should have to pay an employee to receive a service to which they are entitled – no official has the right to demand payment for performing their duties.”
The Citizen article – Gauteng Health warns against hospital bribes and queue-jumping (Open access)
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