Investigations are currently underway following the arrest of two people involved in the theft of medical files at Chris Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
The two are allegedly members of syndicate stealing files relating to vehicle accidents and then claiming for compensation from Road Accident Fund. "We are going to take swift action of our staff members who managing the patient records‚" said Gauteng MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu.
"It can't be correct that the patients' records ends up in someone's [car] boot on a Saturday evening and staff members have not reported that there are five files missing." Mahlangu told reporters on Thursday that the syndicate also involves law firms and hospital staff.
She said one of the two people arrested was suspended by insurer Alexander Forbes after five files were found in her possession. Though Mahlangu could not indicate whether or not this was happening elsewhere‚ she revealed that seven more files were missing from the hospital and that there could be more.
"It's clear that there are employees involved and we hoping that the investigation will unravel all of those issues.
My sense is that it is not confined only here‚ it could be widespread across the province‚" said Mahlangu. She said the two suspects were charged with theft and have appeared in court adding that the Motor Vehicle Accident files office has been temporary closed until next week as investigations continue.
- TMG Digital
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