The ‘precautionary suspension’ and pending investigation of Professor Ebrahim Variava, a key figure in North West’s anti-coronavirus efforts, has triggered sharp criticism from the medical and research fraternity.
Some 250 medical professionals have signed a statement condemning the suspension, including, among others, SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) President Professor Glenda Gray, Chief Executive Director of the Perinatal Research Unit at Wits University Professor Neil Martinson, SAMRC director Professor Shabir Madhi, Head of Paediatrics at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Professor Sithembiso Velaphi, and Professor Cheryl Cohen of the Centre for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
Professor Martinson is quoted by IOL as saying that ‘(this) action shocked his clinical, teaching and research colleagues. His suspension comes at a time of National Disaster when medical professionals, particularly those expert in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe medical illness are most required.’
Variava was suspended from his post as Head of Internal Medicine at the Tshepong public hospital in Klerksdorp by North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha because of ‘serious allegations’ leveled against him.
Sambatha said these included that Variava had ‘acted against current Covid-19 guidelines, compromised limited number of test kits and acted in a manner suspicious of unapproved research; requested computers from NGOs and instructing that they be installed in the wards without any approval; been obstructive to management of the hospital in all meetings planned to prepare for Covid-19; and failed to act as part of management through a tendency to write emails to stakeholders including external ones such as media, Section 27 and different national government departments without any effort to engage internal problems solving mechanisms or allowing management time to resolve issues’.
But the academics say: ‘We feel that the poorly drafted and vague charges bear no relation to our experience of Professor Variava’s conduct and dedication to ethical patient care, teaching and research.’
It has been reported that Variava had raised concerns with the leadership of the North West Department of Health about repeated and lengthy drug stock-outs, particularly of frequently used antibiotics for common infections, and medications required for patients in ICU.
Variava is acknowledged as having built a ‘superb’ academic department that trains medical students and specialists, and ‘conducts cutting-edge research’ into HIV and TB.
He is an internationally recognised scholar, having published almost 90 articles in peer-reviewed international journals. He has conducted multiple studies on the treatment and epidemiology of HIV, TB and drug-resistant TB. He has sat on advisory panels for the treatment of HIV and drug-resistant TB. Sambatha, a former mineworker who rose through the ranks of the National Union of Mineworkers in the mid-1990s and is also the South African Communist Party’s regional secretary in the North West, is quoted by IOL as having said: ‘Where there is ill-discipline the department will take action either through punitive suspension, precautionary suspension or dismissal depending on the nature of the offence and in terms of applicable labour laws.’
[Picture: Bill Oxford]