Johannesburg – The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on Friday said it was investigating allegations that Tembisa Hospital breached procurement rules.
SAHPRA said it “takes note of the alleged procurement of hospital consumables and medical devices in breach of the Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965, as amended)”.
SAHPRA said it was investigating the matter.
“The acting CEO of Tembisa hospital is cooperating with SAHPRA officials,” the health products regulator said.
SAHPRA said it was also working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as part of “this investigation process”.
SAHPRA urged industry and healthcare professionals to comply with the Medicines and Related Substances Act when procuring health products.
“It must be stressed that procurement of these products must be in compliance with the requisite SAHPRA regulations,” the regulator said.
Commenting on the matter, SAHPRA CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said: “SAHPRA holds public safety as an important cornerstone as part of its mandate”.
She added: “Any transgression in terms of unethical conduct and compromising public safety will be taken seriously and will be fully investigated.
“SAHPRA works alongside law enforcement agencies to ensure that any perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.”
Tembisa Hospital was already being investigated by other authorities after it emerged that the public medical facility bought skinny jeans for girls aged between 6 and 7 for half a million rand.
There were also indications that, before she was slain, whistleblower Babita Deokaran – the acting chief financial officer at the Gauteng Provincial Government Department of Health – had uncovered irregular goings on at the hospital.
