The Limpopo Health Department has confirmed that it has sufficient grounds to pursue disciplinary action against a male doctor accused of attempting to rape a pregnant patient at George Masebe Hospital outside Mokopane.
The alleged incident occurred in April this year in the hospital’s ultrasound scan ward. According to reports, the 22-year-old pregnant patient was undergoing an ultrasound procedure when the doctor allegedly attempted to assault her. The victim immediately alerted hospital authorities, who subsequently reported the matter to the police.
Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego announced during the launch of a new computer dispatch system for emergency services that an internal investigation had been completed, leading to the decision to charge the accused doctor.
“For us as the Department of Health, such an allegation is damaging to our image. When a complaint is raised by a patient, we take it seriously and ensure that we protect them by all means necessary,” Mashego stated. “We have concluded our investigations and have now initiated disciplinary processes, which indicates that we believe there are grounds to charge the doctor.”
While the disciplinary process unfolds, the accused doctor remains suspended.
New Emergency Dispatch System Launched
MEC Mashego made the announcement during the introduction of a new digital dispatch system aimed at improving emergency response times across the province. The system is expected to streamline requests for emergency medical services and reduce waiting times for callers.
“We want to improve turnaround times and ensure that people are not left waiting on calls for too long,” Mashego said. “This is a new initiative, and we will be monitoring its effectiveness closely.”
The case has raised concerns over patient safety in healthcare facilities, with the department emphasizing its commitment to accountability and protecting vulnerable individuals seeking medical care.
Police investigations into the alleged assault are ongoing, while the Health Department proceeds with its internal disciplinary measures.
