Gauteng has denied that hundreds of newly-appointed doctors at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital would not be paid because of a bureaucratic bungle.
“Only about 40 doctors, medical interns and registrars will experience a delay in the payment of their salaries,” health spokesperson Simon Zwane said on Friday.
This was due to late submission of their appointment documents to the Gauteng Shared Service Centre (GSSC) by Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
“The appointments are being processed and outstanding salaries will be paid next week,” said Zwane.
Democratic Alliance health spokesperson Jack Bloom earlier said hundreds of new doctors in Gauteng hospitals would not be paid this month because of a “foul-up” by the provincial health department and GSSC.
Zwane said the GSSC neither had backlogs, nor had it rejected the appointments of medical officers and specialists because of Personnel Circular 87 of 2010.
Personnel Circular 87 was issued on November 30 last year to place a moratorium on all new posts, unless written approval was obtained from department head Dr Kamy Chetty.
The Sowetan reported that a large number of appointments made before November 30 were not put on the payment system because of the circular.
Zwane said: “The delay in the payment of salaries and appointment of medical officers and specialists has resulted from the tardiness of the hospital in submitting documents and obtaining the necessary approvals.”
The department had approved the appointment of 512 health professionals, including 160 doctors, since the circular was issued.
“The circular does not prevent the appointment of doctors, but seeks to regulate the manner in which appointments are made to prevent over-expenditure,” Zwane said. — Sapa