The African National Congress’s national working committee (NWC) has expressed “deep concern and outrage” at the latest reports in the Sunday Times newspaper on Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, calling them “nothing more than character assassination”.
The newspaper reported that the health minister had been banned from Botswana after she allegedly stole items from a hospital where she was superintendent and was convicted of theft. The report also claimed that she had alcoholic liver disease before she had her liver transplant this year.
The NWC, which met in Johannesburg on Monday, pointed to “the continued violation by the Sunday Times … of the principle of patient-doctor confidentiality”.
Previously, the newspaper had published information apparently emanating from the minister’s stolen medical records, alleging that she had been drinking while hospitalised for a shoulder operation.
The NWC said it viewed these reports as a “matter of grave concern, not merely as it violates an individual’s right to privacy, but as it impacts on the right of all South Africans to expect their medical information to remain confidential”.
Last week, the Sunday Times was ordered by the Johannesburg High Court to return all copies but one of the medical records.
“The ANC is concerned that the actions of the Sunday Times create a disturbing precedent for the media’s approach to confidential medical records, and undermines efforts to reassure all South Africans that their medical information is, and will remain, confidential and safe,” the NWC said in a statement on Monday evening.
Both President Thabo Mbeki and Tshabalala-Msimang are members of the NWC, but an ANC spokesperson could earlier on Monday not confirm who would be attending the meeting.
Taking action
The NWC called on the Health Professionals’ Council to take appropriate action against any health professionals found to have been involved in the leaking of the records.
It also said the South African National Editors’ Forum should make an unequivocal statement on the issue to reaffirm its commitment to upholding the ethical standards expected of the journalism profession.
“All stakeholders, including those in the media, need to act decisively to restore public confidence in the principle of patient-doctor confidentiality,” the NWC said.
It added: “The ANC remains committed to effective, credible and accountable governance at all levels. Anyone who may have evidence that any member of the executive may have acted in dereliction of duty should forward such evidence to the Presidency.”
This mirrored earlier responses on the matter by the Presidency. Spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga earlier on Monday said the Presidency would not launch an investigation into the matter until the evidence was produced.
“The Presidency has asked for a very simple thing. These are allegations that are arising from quarters that seemingly have some evidence. We believe that these quarters would not put these allegations in the public domain if they were not confident about the veracity of their ability to prove them. We are inviting them to bring the information,” he said.
The NWC reiterated its confidence in Tshabalala-Msimang “to implement the policies of the ANC-led government in working to achieve better health for all. It further extends its support to her during this difficult time.”
Condemnation
Political parties and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have called for a probe into the latest claims against Tshabalala-Msimang.
Cosatu and the African Christian Democratic Party urged Mbeki to investigate the claims, while the Democratic Alliance called for a probe by the Public Protector.
“In view of their seriousness, (Cosatu) urges the president to conduct a full investigation into the allegations to establish whether, and to what degree, they are true or false,” the union body said.
It has been alleged that in March this year Mbeki called up surgeons at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre to insist that they approve a liver transplant for Tshabalala-Msimang, DA leader Helen Zille said in a statement. “If this is true, it would be a disgraceful abuse of his public position.”
The South African Students Congress (Sasco) came out in support of the health minister, saying she cannot be fired because she is the most efficient health minister to date.