Izindaba

Mabasa – one SAMA man into the breach

Stepping into a political maelstrom by department, saying it was under administration health policy committee since 2004, who accepting his appointment as ’s because it had overshot its budget by paying will remain in the position until the national Health Minister, the softly spoken former out the OSD to doctors and nurses. ‘I doubt council elects the SAMA leadership for the South African Medical Association (SAMA) there was fraud and corruption. Yes, there were next 3 years this September. chairperson, Dr Norman Mabasa, was irregularities when the auditors came in and He told Izindaba: ‘It’s not nice to lose unexpectedly robust when asked ‘What on could find no supporting documentation for Norman because of his stature and what he’s earth were you thinking?’ last month. existing items but you have to draw a distinction meant to the association in terms of his ability The turbulent province is now over R2 between irregularities and corruption and fraud. to gel people together – after a significant billion in debt, with a joint national ministerial Nothing has been proven yet; this can only be period of turbulence. We’re still on the road task team having stepped in to take emergency determined by the national administration, if to mending it and part of that is formally corrective measures – with all the attendant needs be. I’m hesitant to comment until I get bringing the private specialists back. I’ve been internal politicking and finger-pointing. The a full report from the national administrator,’ at the helm of driving that on behalf of the health department, tainted by as yet unproven he said. board and Exco. It’s a bit like part of the family’s allegations of R314 million in disputed missing even though there are a number of pharmaceutical contracts involving relatives Keeping an open mind specialists whom we continue to serve.’ Key and associates of former ANC Youth League Admitting that he faced a ‘tough task’, Mabasa areas he would focus on included remaining President, (a close friend and said he would identify and prioritise any areas the leading doctors’ voice on National Health political ally of Premier Cassel Mathale), of mismanagement and ‘deal with the glaring Insurance (NHI), pressurising government to is officially R437 million in the red (after poverty and need for healthcare services which effectively deal with the ‘myriad of issues’ in narrowly honouring its Occupation Specific we cannot ignore. People expect something the public healthcare sector, and tackling tariff Dispensation (OSD) commitments). There different now and I have to work within issues and the emasculation of the doctors’ are 39 653 vacant health posts. systems to try and meet those expectations voice in the private sector. Sonderup vowed while balancing it with the reality out there.’ to continue re-aligning and restructuring the He was going in with an open mind in order association, its branches, the board and its ‘not to be corrupted by any prior information committees, adding, ‘We aim to hand over – my approach, which has worked in the a new structure that hopefully positions us past, is to accept that which is in front of me.’ better for the future and aims to avoid the While sad at leaving SAMA where he played mistakes of the past.’ a pivotal role in the medical group’s unity process in the late 1990s and subsequently managed, chaired and served as president of the organisation, Mabasa said doctors would not lose his contribution. ‘If the profession is stable and I’m asked to serve the other side (society) and I have the national interest at heart, there’s no reason Dr Norman Mabasa, recently resigned chairman to refuse. From my point of view it could be of SAMA, now Health Minister for Limpopo. better for the profession to have someone they Picture: Chris Bateman. can relate to. They won’t have to bring their CVs to meetings. They know me and I know Mabasa told Izindaba: ‘No doctor wants to them. I think it’s a win-win,’ he added. He claim victory on a healthy patient.’ When the highlighted the successes of Limpopo’s health executive of the province approached him to department, which he said included leading ‘help re-engineer’ the health department, he the country in immunisation and ‘instituting says he reasoned that a refusal would be to avoid a lot of ARVs’. Acting Chairperson of SAMA, Dr Mark Sonderup. taking on responsibility for change. ‘I thought, if we’ve been complaining that the system is SAMA’s new Acting He described SAMA as ‘a diverse animal, ailing and they ask us to help ease the process, Chairperson part professional, part political and part then who do we want to send to carry the The Acting Chairperson of SAMA will be service, but always member-focused and responsibility? And are we going to complain Mabasa’s former deputy, Dr Mark Sonderup, a member-driven. As a board we’re clear on this tomorrow and say that people are incompetent? senior specialist and lecturer at the University and it’s been our purpose and function over And of course if a person is sick they need a of Cape Town/Groote Schuur Hospital in the the last two and a half years.’ doctor. Also I’m addicted to serving the national Division of Hepatology/Liver Research Centre. Currently a mediated process is under way interest,’ he added. Mabasa landed in his new Sonderup, a veteran of medical politics (former between SAMA and the breakaway specialists office only to be handed this year’s health vice-chair of the Junior Doctors Association of about which neither side was willing to speak budget speech for delivery, and quickly brought (JUDASA), former chair of the for fear of jeopardising their chances of success. himself up to speed, absorbing it just hours South African Registrars Association (SARA), before this Izindaba interview. He rebutted former chair and president of SAMA’s Cape Chris Bateman any imputation of fraud or corruption in the Western Branch and a member of SAMA’s [email protected]

277 May 2012, Vol. 102, No. 5 SAMJ