Crisis at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital denied

The Gauteng health department has denied that there was a "looming crisis" at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg.

"The only 'looming crisis' at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital is in the minds of those who want government to turn a blind eye to the abuse of overtime and getting less value for public money," health MEC Hope Papo said.

Papo was responding to questions from journalists that the hospital faced a crisis since doctors were threatening the department of health with resignations.

This was over the department's decision to tighten its controls of overtime and the granting of permission to health care workers to do remunerative work outside of public service, due to alleged abuse of the processes.

"One of the priorities in the ten-point plan is overhauling the health care system and improve its management," Papo said.

"This means ensuring that government gets value for its money and we therefore cannot allow health care professionals to be paid for not being at work."

Ndoda Biyela, acting provincial head of health, said the department engaged hospital chief executive officers and clinical managers to look at ways of strengthening the management of overtime and remunerative work.

"Once all health care professionals have been fully allocated for their paid time, including commuted overtime, we would then consider approving appropriate option for overtime," he said.

"The department will not backtrack on strengthening health care management including demanding value for public money and tightening internal controls for effective management of all its employees."