Two health workers have been given the sack for stealing medicines for a range of illnesses including genital infections‚ mental problems and chest infections. The dismissals come after the Gauteng Department launched investigations into cases of fraud and misconduct at provincial hospitals.A total of six government health workers got the sack after the investigations – two for medicine theft‚ the department said in a statement on Tuesday.At Tembisa Tertiary Hospital‚ a pharmacist assistant and a laundry worker were caught stealing: - 48 boxes of Epilim CR‚ used for treatment of bipolar disorder‚ psychotic conditions‚ and for nerve related pain; - -35 boxes of Sandoz-Co amoxyclov‚ used for treatment of community acquired pneumonia‚ upper and lower respiratory infection and otitis media; - 40 boxes of lansoloc‚ used for treatment of epigastric pains and general ulcers; and - 49 boxes of Loviri‚ used for treatment of herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses and genital infections.The Department also fired four other officials for other misdemeanours such as collusion in management of mortuary corpses at Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital; accepting a position for which the official had not applied for at the same facility (financial clerk); and falsification of employer’s documents in order to mislead the employer to believe that the official was at work while he had not reported for duty. An administration clerk was also fired at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital for payment of overtime to another employee without following due process‚ which led to irregular expenditure of overtime payments. MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu said it disheartened her that people continue to commit such offences and she said she will not hesitate to throw the book at anyone who has been found to have transgressed.“I can never over emphasise the importance for public officials to carry themselves in an exemplary manner while executing their duties. At times people are driven by pure greed to misrepresent their overtime and stealing from their work place.“How does one explain the rationale for an assistant pharmacist to steal medicine he should be custodian of? Anyone found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with harshly‚” Mahlangu said...