Immigrants say clinic staff at several ciinics in Gauteng are now demanding money for them in exchange for ARVs, other chronic medications, and baby immunisations, with the going rate for a three-month supply of ARVs being around R330, writes Kimberly Mutandiro for GroundUp.
The National Department of Health alleges it is unaware of staff at Spartan, Jeppe and Yeoville clinics extorting money, but has strongly condemned the practice, and asked that anyone with evidence contact the department or police.
Last week, the Gauteng High Court ordered the government and police to take firm action against the xenophobic vigilantes blocking immigrants from accessing health services at clinics. This came after months of reports that vigilantes were screening out foreign nationals at Johannesburg clinics.
In November, the High Court interdicted Operation Dudula from demanding to see IDs of patients.
However, Groundup has subsequently heard that clinic and security staff, sometimes in cahoots with Operation Dudula members, are extorting money from foreign nationals in return for access to health services.
At some clinics, immigrants are admitted but then never served, or told there is no stock of the medicines they require. The desperate patients are then open to extortion by staff who clandestinely sell them ARVs and chronic medicines.
Spartan clinic
GroundUp was told some staff at Spartan clinic were secretly sharing their WhatsApp numbers with immigrants desperate for healthcare. The staff then offer ARVs, other chronic medicine, baby immunisations, prenatal care for pregnant mothers, and other services for various fees.
Those who agree to pay are admitted to the clinic by special appointment.
One long-standing (immigrant) patient who had been collecting her ARVs every three months said she had been denied access since October.
A fellow immigrant then gave her the WhatsApp number of a nurse, who said she could get her ARVs if she paid.
She made an appointment and was ushered in by the nurse. It surprised her that the same security guards and Operation Dudula members who had previously chased her away, did not stop her this time.
Inside, she paid R200 for a month’s supply of ARVs.
Another immigrant shared screenshots of a conversation she’d had with a clinic staffer, who told her ARVs were R200 for one month and R300 for a three-month supply. Diabetes medication was offered for R200.
GroundUp also received this price list after messaging the clinic employee.
Jeppe Clinic
At Jeppe clinic, one immigrant said she had managed to get inside on Monday and Tuesday last week for the first time since August, but had left empty-handed, with the staff not willing to serve her.
She then bought ARVs for R300 from a woman who has connections with the staff.
The woman, “M”, had said said she was “helping fellow immigrants who are struggling to get their medication from clinics”.
GroundUp met her with bottles of ARVs in her backpack. She was delivering them to her “clients” in one of Johannesburg’s “dark buildings”.
M has chronic high blood pressure. Previously, she was also chased away from Jeppe clinic by Operation Dudula, but then a staff member gave her a WhatsApp number and asked her to find other immigrants needing chronic medication.
M says she buys ARVs, PreP pills, diabetes and blood pressure medication from the clinic. She gets R50 kickback on every R300.
Yeoville clinic
At Yeoville clinic, immigrants told GroundUp that Operation Dudula and clinic staff now allow them entry if they have valid permits and asylum documents.
Meanwhile undocumented immigrants are turned away. Security guards confirmed this.
Z, who sells airtime on the street, has a Malawian passport that has expired. She says she was chased away from the clinic. Her Zimbabwean neighbour paid R150 to a clinic staffer to have her baby immunised at the clinic.
Ethel Musonza, from an organisation called Zimbabwe Isolated Women in South Africa, said a number of immigrants had contacted them, claiming chronic medication has to be bought from clinic staff at Jeppe, Yeoville and Rosettenville clinics.
“Many people have defaulted on their HIV and Aids treatment, and some people who were on PreP can no longer access it,” Musonza said. She called for urgent intervention from law enforcement and the Department of Health.
Gauteng Health did not respond to our requests for comment, but Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the National Health Department, said they were not aware of any extortion.
“If this is true, it is unlawful, and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” he said.
“We request anyone with evidence to share it with the department or law enforcement agencies so they can swiftly investigate.”
He said none of the clinics GroundUp visited had reported a shortage of any medications.
“The department treats these allegations seriously, but for us to act, we need information,” he added.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Defiant Operation Dudula to appeal ruling
Court orders Operation Dudula to stop targeting migrants