Swazi Observer

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CLINIC GROUP SUSPENDS 4 STAFF MEMBERS

By Sabelo Ndzinisa | 2022-01-23

Four staff members at the Clinic Group have been suspended indefinitely amid intensified investigation into potential breach of patient confidentiality at the health facility.

This comes after confidential health information implicating two senior members of the royal family who are patients at the clinic were leaked on social media platforms, violating their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.

As a result, the clinic’s management wasted no time in instituting an internal probe, which subsequently led to the suspension of the four staff members as investigations continue.
The Group’s Acting Managing Director Dr Khotso Ramphele minced no words in stating that the net was widening as preliminary investigations point to a coordinated and malicious attempt at corporate sabotage.

He said they felt this was aimed at undermining the new administration that was seeking to entrench corporate values which align with world-class standards of patient care.

For the record, the Clinic Group is currently undergoing a complete reconfiguration under its new management with the objective to prioritise patient care as an institutional value.
Dr Ramphele pointed out that the leaking of confidential patients’ information was a shocking and profoundly egregious violation of privacy.

He was quick to look at the positives though, observing that this will strengthen the new administration’s resolve to establish, champion and maintain values that enhanced patient care, including securing the privacy and confidentiality of medical information.

“The Group is committed to its patients and to ensuring they receive the best care. We have been on a recruitment drive to attract and retain the best talent whilst simultaneously working to transform the existing institutional culture into a value-driven one where our professional teams unwaveringly champion and strive for world class standards of patient care.

We will never compromise on patient care or excuse any unethical conduct,” Dr Ramphele said.
The acting MD added that from an administrative point of view, the clinic was introducing enhanced mechanisms, tools and technologies to detect, prevent, and respond to data security violations.

He assured that the new security measures would effectively reinforce the clinic’s existing policies relating to protection of patient information.

Dr Ramphele could not hide his disappointment at the blatant unprofessionalism in breaching of patient confidentiality, pointing out that such (patient confidentiality) was an ethical, moral and legal obligation in their line of work.

“Such conduct (leaking of patient confidentiality) cannot be attributed to human error but rather to malice or sabotage which we all must condemn in the strongest terms possible because it tarnishes all health professionals and erodes the public’s faith in our health systems and trust in our noble profession,” the acting MD said.

The doctor further mentioned that it was a huge credit that lot of trust has been invested in local healthcare facilities as well as health personnel as it encouraged patients to seek treatment within the borders of the country.

“It would be such a shame if patients felt they could no longer trust our institutions to afford them the common decency of preserving their privacy and protecting their confidential information. Given the gravity of the data breach, the findings of the internal investigation will also aid in assessing threats, overhauling information systems and eliminating the possibility of similar incidents in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Swaziland Democratic Nurses Association (SWADNU) Secretary-General Mayibongwe Masangane condemned the leaking of patient confidential information. He said such behaviour was unethical and not expected of any nurse or professional associated with patients.

“At this point, we do not want to even think that our members might be behind such an unethical act and we do not promote it being done to any patient irrespective of his or her status in society. As a principle, patients’ confidential information is not leaked to third parties,” Masangane said when called on the matter.

Director of Information and Communication at the King’s Office, Percy Simelane was less than amused when asked to comment on the issue last night. “We are not privy to these alleged admissions. To the best of our knowledge, hospitalisation files are confidential.

We can only hope it did not happen and both their royal highnesses are sound and well because if indeed they went to a particular health institution and their confidential records were leaked, their doctors owe them an explanation,” Simelane stated clearly. The former government’s spokesperson stated that this was clearly invasion of privacy.

He said this could also be checked against Section 18 of the constitution, which militates against deprivation of dignity, adding that, “again, we can only hope this did not happen.”

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