Limpopo ANC defends Phophi Ramathuba Amid HPCSA Inquiry
The ANC in Limpopo has defended premier Phophi Ramathuba amid a Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) probe into her controversial remarks to a patient from Zimbabwe in Bela Bela Hospital about foreigners “killing” the health system.
ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka defended the premier, concurring with her stance that the HPCSA should not have investigated the matter as she “made the comments in her capacity as health MEC”.
“The ANC Limpopo has noted the case by [the] HPCSA against Ramathuba. It’s our view that Ramathuba was correct to raise alarm about the illegal foreigners who are over-burdening the health sector in our province and the country,” said Machaka.
The council started a formal inquiry this week into Ramathuba’s conduct.
Ramathuba was the MEC for health in the province when she was recorded confronting a patient in a video that went viral on social media.
“It is our belief there is nothing wrong about the statement she made. The statement was made in her political capacity as health MEC and should not have been subjected to HPCSA inquiry. We believe [the] HPCSA is attempting to enter political terrain.”
“The crisp question is this — is the applicant in her capacity as MEC a separate persona from the applicant as a medical practitioner? The office of the MEC is a political one whereas the applicant’s status as a medical practitioner is a professional one
It is not at issue that the applicant was registered as a medical practitioner and subject to the HPCSA before she was appointed to the office of MEC. The holding of the political office and remaining registered as a medical practitioner are not mutually exclusive,” said Machaka
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In the footage, Ramathuba, wearing her doctor’s scrubs, was seen questioning the patient about her nationality.
The patient, who spoke Shona, was told by Ramathuba that her country of origin should have provided for her medical treatment.
Ramathuba expressed frustration that Zimbabwe did not fund the treatment of foreign nationals, stating, “You are killing my health system.”
The incident led to a formal complaint filed by a coalition of advocacy groups, including Lawyers for Human Rights, the Helen Suzman Foundation, and others.
In January 2023, the HPCSA concluded that there was evidence of unprofessional conduct, issuing a reprimand to Ramathuba.
The Premier rejected the findings, insisting that her comments were within the scope of her role as the head of the provincial Department of Health and that the HPCSA had no jurisdiction over her actions.
At the hearing this week, Nigel Branken, representing the complainants, argued that Ramathuba violated ethical principles, including respect for patient dignity and non-discrimination.
Branken says Ramathuba’s statement violated the principle of truthfulness by spreading misleading information about the impact of foreign nationals on South Africa’s healthcare system.
“Dr Ramathuba claimed that foreign nationals and undocumented migrants are included in budget allocations for healthcare services stating that their presence overburdens the system. This claim is misleading. By misrepresenting healthcare funding and migration trends, Dr Ramathuba’s statements stigmatise vulnerable communities, particularly foreign nationals,” he says.
He says such misinformation can lead healthcare practitioners failing to care for foreign nationals and undocumented individuals, further straining an under-resourced healthcare system.
The complainants want the HPCSA to revoke Ramathuba’s registration. They also called on the HPCSA to investigate the other health professionals in the video who failed to intervene to protect the patient.
“Should they be found guilty of unprofessional conduct, we request that appropriate sanctions be applied and a deterrent to similar actions by other healthcare professionals in the future.”