‘Genie already out of the bottle’ - SAMA warns govt as it mulls stricter measures
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) believes acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane will fail if she does not heed advice from the Covid-19 advisory committees.
Kubayi-Ngubane was appointed earlier this month to act in the place of Zweli Mkhize amid investigations into the irregular Digital Vibes tender.
She comes in amid a raging health crisis, with the difficult task of leading the drive to stop the runaway Covid infections and implement a successful vaccine drive.
SAMA chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee says Kubayi-Ngubane’s best bet would be to lean on the health experts for guidance.
“If she’s not going to listen to the advice from the advisory committees but listen to the command council, she’s going to get it wrong. It’s very easy.
READ: Kubayi-Ngubane slams South Africans for not adhering to Covid regulations
“She doesn’t have the knowledge and background from the medical field so therefore you need to listen.”
Coetzee further slammed government for failing to listen to some expert medical advice.
“What we have learnt is that ministerial advisory committees their advice are not always taken into account and unfortunately, it’s only advice and we are constantly being reminded that it’s only advice - we can do with it what we want.”
Coetzee’s comments come on the back of calls for government to implement stricter lockdown regulations.
The National Coronavirus Command Council is set to meet on Tuesday.
But Coetzee believes the NCCC may have waited too long to implement stringent lockdown measures.
“It’s too late, this should have happened two-three weeks ago when we asked for that so the genie is already out of the bottle. It’s going to be difficult get it back into the bottle.”
