No more tragedy in health sector following deaths of mentally ill patients: Zuma

South African President Jacob Zuma pledged on Thursday that no tragedy would occur in the health sector following the deaths of dozens of mentally ill patients due to negligence.

Zuma was speaking after receiving a report from the Health Ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of dozens of mentally ill patients in Gauteng Province last year.

The president thanked Makgoba for the investigation, which will help the government to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur in the health sector, presidential spokesperson Bongani Nqgulunga said.

The president will be apprised by the Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi on steps to be taken to ensure that utmost care, support, empathy and expertise are made available to patients requiring mental health care, according to Nqgulunga.

Zuma extended his deepest condolences to all the families of the deceased, Nqgulunga said.

Earlier, Motsoaledi said he would act sooner regarding the transfer of mentally ill patients from Life Healthcare Esidimeni hospitals in Gauteng.

On Wednesday, Makgoba released his report which found that former Gauteng health MEC (Member of the Executive Council) Qedani Mahlangu and other senior officials were negligent and reckless in their decision to transfer 94 patients to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were operating illegally.

Barely three months after 1,300 patients were relocated to NGOs last year, at least 37 have died.

Mahlangu resigned just hours before the damning findings against her were made public.

United Nations human rights experts have expressed shock at the deaths of the psychiatric patients.

The experts said in a statement last December that following a badly planned relocation process of 2,300 persons from Life Healthcare Esidimeni hospitals, the Gauteng Department of Health has transferred more than half of them under the care of NGOs with inadequate capacity and resources to assist people requiring high-level, specialized and intensive non-stop care.

"South Africa must set up a policy framework to guide its deinstitutionalization process, inclusive of a plan of action with timelines and benchmarks, the redistribution of public funds from institutions to community services, and the development of adequate housing and community support for persons with disabilities, such as housing assistance, home and family support, and respite care," the experts said. Endit