On Thursday, Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health, announced Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena’s appointment as the new Health Ombudsman, effective June 1, 2023.
Once his seven-year term concluded on May 31, 2023, the nation’s first Health Ombud, Professor Malekgapuru Makgoba, resigned from his position.
The new Health Ombud, according to Phaahla, is one of South Africa’s “exceptional” medical experts and has travelled the world to demonstrate the calibre of the country’s academic prowess.
Mokoena, a former head of surgery at the University of Pretoria, will take up the position that aims to safeguard and advance the health and safety of healthcare consumers.
Mokoena is a doctor of philosophy from the University of Oxford, a University of Natal medical graduate, and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
According to Phaahla, his clinical and scientific interests include the fields of endocrinology, cancer, and immunology.
He continues to teach, mentor, and oversee undergraduate and graduate medical students as well as research on a part-time or sessional basis, according to Phaahla.
The South African Medical Association (SAMA), the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), and the College of Surgeons of South Africa are just a few of the professional organisations that Mokoena has held leadership positions on (CSSA).
Between 1996 and 1997, he was chosen to serve as panel chair for the examination into surgical fatalities at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
He also looked at the bias within the hospital’s cardiology department.
His background in investigations and inquiries into malpractice and injustices in the healthcare industry lends credence to his appointment as the next Health Ombud, according to Phaahla.
The Minister expressed his confidence in Mokoena’s ability to carry out his duties with assiduity, a strict sense of fairness, and without bias.
We always assure him of our unmatched support and wish him luck in his new role.
Phaahla also thanked Makgoba, Mokoena’s predecessor, who had been tasked with founding this agency as the first South African Health Ombud.
Phaahla stated that Makgoba showed his patriotism and dedication to enhancing the nation’s healthcare system.
He looked into issues that were brought to his attention without favouritism or bias and provided recommendations that were extremely useful to the nation’s healthcare system.
Life Esidimeni, which involved patients with mental health issues, Tembisa Hospital, and the most recent Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital are just a few of the high-profile investigations carried out under his direction.
“Professor Makgoba spent a significant lot of his term following on the complaints of regular people who visit our healthcare facilities, in addition to attending to high profile complaints,” added Phaahla.
Mokoena took the time to thank the Minister for appointing him and to honour Makgoba for laying the foundation for this new office.
“I know I was hesitant, but you’re in charge. Even if you are hesitant, you ask the boss how high I should jump when he asks, and now here I am.”
Mokoena, who identified himself as “new blood,” expressed his desire to advance the position.
“The difficulties the health system is currently facing is just one of many reasons why the office of the Ombud is challenging. Despite our meagre resources, our population is expanding.”
People must get the care they deserve in order to provide quality healthcare despite scarce resources.
Mokoena added that the Ombud’s office needed to have a listening ear.
