HASA subscribes to the highest ethical and quality standards with regard to the provision of appropriate health care services within the country and beyond. Incidents of this nature do little to advance the private hospital sector and cannot be condoned.
Revised ethical code/b>
In order to ensure that patient safety and rights are maintained by member hospitals, HASA's Board of Directors adopted a revised ethical code in 2009. This code compels members of the Association to adhere to the provisions herein in the interests of all patients.
Furthermore, HASA's Articles of Association stipulate that the Board may call any member to account for its actions, which in turn, may result in an investigation.
HASA takes cognisance of Netcare's explanation pertaining to its admission of guilt for offences committed by Netcare KwaZulu-Natal between 2001 and 2003 under the Human Tissue Act and the prevention of Organized Crime Act, plus the subsequent public apology issued by Netcare.
Netcare publicly admitted that it became evident that certain Netcare KwaZulu-Natal employees must have been aware that some kidney donors were not related to kidney recipients and that payments must have been made to the donors for their kidneys. According to Netcare, these actions are attributable to employees of Netcare Kwa-Zulu Natal.
HASA is further encouraged by Netcare's stated revision of internal policies and protocols pertaining to organ transplant services, thus ensuring that occurrences of this nature do not recur.
Pursuant to reports in the press and calls by Cabinet for appropriate protocols within the private sector pertaining to the provision of transplant services, HASA has taken the decision to examine all existing protocols, policies and standards pertaining to such among its membership. In particular, HASA is requesting that all members who provide transplant services either regularly or intermittently within their establishments, submit documentation to the HASA Clinical Governance Committee.
The HASA Clinical Governance Committee is involved in patient safety and positive clinical outcome issues including ethical practice, and has engaged with other stakeholders in the development of standards for the New Office of Health Standards and Compliance being established by the Department of Health.
This Committee will be tasked with examining the protocols submitted by members in order to establish whether sufficient protections are in place to ensure legal compliance and the maintenance of those ethical and quality standards to which we aspire.
HASA's members are encouraged to use this opportunity to evaluate internal protocols pertaining to services so as to ensure the following:
Given the desperate need for organ donors, we urge all South Africans to support organ donation and contact the Organ Donor Foundation on +27 (0)800 22 66 11 or at gro.ronodnagro@ofni for further information.
