THE alleged abuse of over-time cost the Gauteng health department R120- million in one year at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Health MEC Hope Papo revealed this yesterday in the legislature in his response to a question from Democratic Alliance caucus leader Jack Bloom.

Bloom had enquired about the number of anaesthetists who had resigned or given notice at the hospital since the department began its clampdown on the alleged excessive claims of overtime by specialist doctors last year.

Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Papo announced last year that an internal inquiry had uncovered widespread abuse of the overtime system and evidence that doctors had submitted fraudulent claims.

But before he replied to Bloom, Papo first vehemently rejected suggestions that the department was overstating the problem as well as carrying out a witch-hunt against specialist doctors. He dismissed as a "prima donna notion" calls for a re-think of cuts in overtime pay.

Papo said doctors were required to work 40 hours a week, adding that those who failed to satisfy this criteria did not qualify to be paid overtime.

While the department was not set against doctors doing private work and being remunerated for it, Papo said the department would not apologise for clamping down on doctors who did private work at the expense of their public service duties, and especially using state resources.

"This is an interesting question as it deals with the problem of remuneration outside the public service. In Charlotte Maxeke alone, we paid R120-million [in overtime] in one year.

"We don't even have records [of the overtime], but we paid R120-million in one year."

Responding to Papo, Bloom argued against sweeping cuts in overtime but blamed hospital management. "There certainly is a problem but I think you are throwing out the baby with the bath water. I think there is a management issue at this hospital. I haven't received similar complaints at any other hospital except this one," he said.

Turning to the exodus of doctors at Charlotte Maxeke, Papo confirmed the resignations of 11 anaesthetists as well as one dermatologist, three surgeons, four radiologists and two other doctors.

Two radiologists left for "personal reasons" while another two "took transfers", leaving one doctor to abandon the public service for private healthcare on a full-time basis, Papo said.

The exodus of skilled medics had not had an adverse effect on the quality of care provided at Charlotte Maxeke, he said.

"There is no immediate effect on patient healthcare," Papo said, before announcing that several candidates had been interviewed this month to replace those who had since departed. - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za