The Life Esidimeni Inquest in Pretoria will on Tuesday morning continue to hear evidence from Medical Expert, Professor Abel Pienaar.
On Monday, he told the inquest that mentally ill patients were transferred to new Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) without proper records detailing their medical needs and condition.
Professor Pienaar said that the transfer of patients from the Life Esidemeni facilities constituted neglect and poor health care.
The 144 patients died of hunger, dehydration and neglect during and after they were moved to ill-equipped and unregistered NGO.
This is after the Gauteng Health Department closed down the Life Esidimeni facilities in June 2016, citing financial constraints. Professor Pienaar says the health of the patients was compromised.
“What I mean my lady is that in my assessment all these patients are either severe or profoundly and intellectually unable. Therefore in contact, direct and close monitoring of patients is of most importance. And I mean monitoring of care and the condition of the patient should the condition deteriorate.”
Pienaar has told the Life Esidimeni Inquest the High Court in Pretoria that facilities that were used to accommodate mentally ill patients, lacked resources.
In his report, he has noted that staff shortages compromised the caring and monitoring of patients.
Pienaar said the resources were way below international standards.
“The severe and profound the idea would be one is to five. But we are aware that ideal might not be like that in the practice. But at the most one is to ten. In a developing context because when we look at low and middle-income countries, we do not have the amount of resources that our higher-income countries have. So at the most, I would say one is to ten, especially when you look at severe and profound. And that’s the practice.”
The inquest is investigating the deaths of 144 psychiatric patients:
