The department of health in North West has instituted an investigation into allegations of patients at a government clinic being forced to take HIV tests before getting treatment for any ailment.
Staff at Ikhutseng Community Clinic in Klipgat Village in Brits have been accused of forcing patients to take HIV tests, and those who refused were allegedly denied access to treatment.
Spokesman for the provincial department of health Tebogo Lekgethwane said yesterday that the province's HIV and Aids directorate in conjunction with the Madibeng Health District were alerted to the allegations on Monday, and have assigned a team to investigate .
He said MEC Magome Masike yesterday welcomed the investigations, adding that there was no time frame set for the investigations "but we expect them to be over in about two weeks".
The South African Human Rights Commission expressed deep concern.
"We remain of the firm view that people should be encouraged to know their status as HIV testing is an important part of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and treatment, if it is provided in a way that respects basic human rights," said the commission's spokesman Vincent Moaga.
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