DA requests Public Protector to investigate Health Portfolio Chair's interference

Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee Dr Bevan Goqwana has sought to interfere in the running of the Council of Medical Schemes (CMS), and prevent it from investigating alleged corruption by the trustees at the country's fourth biggest medical scheme, Medshield.

The CMS is responsible for regulating medical schemes in such a way that the interests of the schemes and their members are protected.

I am in possession of a letter dated 11 October 2011, which was sent by Dr Goqwana to the Chairperson of the CMS Professor William Pick, and copied to the Registrar of the CMS Mr Monwabisi Gantsho.

A copy of the letter is available here.

In this letter, Dr Goqwana expresses his disappointment at the CMS' decision to reinstitute an inspection of Medshield, rather than resolve the matter through mediation. He states that he is raising these concerns on behalf of Parliament, which is disingenuous. The matters discussed in this correspondence have never been discussed by the Health Portfolio Committee.

Dr Goqwana's letter raises questions about whether he and Mr Gantsho have abused their powers by interfering in operations of CMS, and preventing it from conducting an investigation it is mandated to perform. 

I have also been informed that Dr Goqwana interfered with CMS investigations into two other medical schemes, Bonitas and Allcare.

In light of this, I will be writing to the Public Protector to request that her office investigates possible misconduct on the part of Dr Goqwana in interfering with the operations of the CMS.

Furthermore, I will be writing to CMS Chairperson Professor Pick William Pick to determine why reasonable action has not been taken by the Council to prevent interference in its investigations. 

Statement issued by Mike Waters MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health, October 23 2011

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