Two doctors forcibly quarantined at the Modimolle MDR-TB facility in Limpopo have been released following a court challenge – but the way they were treated has raised concerns in the medical fraternity.
Dr Claire Olivier and Dr Taryn Williams work at the Mmametlhake Hospital in Mpumalanga but live in Limpopo. They tested positive for Covid-19 and self-isolated at home. However, Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba insisted they be moved to the MDR-TB facility on 2 April.
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) helped the doctors to challenge the forced relocation with an urgent court application. The Limpopo High Court ordered legal representatives for the parties to reach a settlement before the matter proceeded.
The doctors self-isolated according to regulations when they tested positive for Covid-19.
SAMA chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee remained concerned about the manner in which they were treated initially, especially considering that they strictly followed National Institute of Communicable Diseases and national government regulations once they tested positive.
Coetzee said such treatment would make other doctors reluctant to be tested for fear of being similarly treated if found to be infected.
’Another issue is that valuable resources – which are already scarce and in high demand – have been utilised in keeping these two doctors in isolation instead of being used on other more vulnerable people,’ said Coetzee.
Subsequent to the agreement, the doctors tested negative. The MEC claimed this as the reason for releasing the two doctors.
But Coetzee said: ‘This is a disingenuous move clearly aimed at framing the release of Drs Olivier and Williams as a medical issue because of their negative tests. However, the pair had to be released from the facility because of a court order, not because they have since tested negative.’
Their negative test results were revealed only after the directive that the doctors be released was made.