Unions call for probe into alleged intern abuse after doctor’s death

Healthcare workers’ unions, Public Servants Association (PSA) and the South African Medical Association (SAMA) are calling on the Department of Health to thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse of medical interns in health facilities.

This after a 25-year-old doctor Alulutho Mazwi died on Monday after allegedly being forced by his supervisor to work though he was ill.

Doctor Mazwi’s death led to an outcry on social media about poor working conditions for healthcare workers.

PSA manager in KwaZulu-Natal, Mlungisi Ndlovu is calling on the Human Rights Commission as well as Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi to intervene.

Ndlovu says they have been raising concerns about the ill-treatment of frontline workers in public healthcare facilities.

“The PSA has constantly raised red flags about Prince Mshiyeni Hospital and other public hospitals in the province; these include mental and physical burnout among healthcare professionals. Doctors in the public hospitals in particular the interns, are facing excessive workloads due to chronic staff shortages, unfair rosters, long shifts without rest, especially in institutions like Prince Mshiyeni Hospital, delay in salary payments, lack of mental health support.”

Ndlovu adds, “What we have also discovered as PSA is that these medical interns are abused, they are even afraid to raise some of the issues with exception of some who were brave enough and told us that its survival of the fittest.”

SAMATU demands medical intern death probe