Victory for Dr Thys von Mollendorf

The RuDASA Rural Doctor of the year in 2002, Dr Thys von Mollendorf, has been vindicated in his drawn out battle with the Mpumalanga Department of Health. Thys was fired as superintendent of the Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit in February last year because he had allowed the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project to use a room in the hospital without the permission of the health department. An internal hearing found him guilty of gross insubordination.

Finally, this month (March 2003), his challenge to his dismissal was heard before the Public Service Health Sectoral Bargaining Council in an arbitration hearing, which he won. The Mpumalanga Health Department has withdrawn all charges, agreeing to pay compensation and his legal costs. Compensation would include a year's pay as well as the pension benefits he had lost. An earlier finding by the health department that he was guilty of insubordination was also declared null and void.

However, Thys has decided against reinstatement as superintendent saying that he wants to do his best for his patients without having to continually worry about being charged for something. "If it one day becomes a patient-friendly department, I'll go back. I would have gladly stayed because there is a shortage of senior doctors, but everyone is so scared of being charged that they cannot continue with their work," he said.

RuDASA is very pleased with the ruling in Thys' favour, but saddened by the loss to public health care of his service, caused by the intransigence of the Mpumalanga Department of Health. We know that Thys will continue to work as a rural doctor, albeit in the private sector, and wish him all the best.

At the same time, we call on the Mpumalanga Department of Health to take active steps to address the low morale of its rural doctors, caused by its action against von Mollendorf, and to show support of and commitment to the few remaining experienced senior doctors in rural hospitals who are vital to the future of the health service, as well as to engage in active collaboration with NGO's in order to combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS.