The Minister of Health and Social Welfare says her Ministry will take legal action against former acting Medical Superintendent of Queen II hospital, Dr Makhetha Mosotho.

Responding to questions in the Senate on Tuesday, Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng said the move follows Dr Mosotho's failure to honour his transfer to Thaba-Tseka hospital since August last year.

She said despite his failure to report himself to work where he has been transferred to, Dr Mosotho has been receiving his full monthly pay since August last year to date.

She said according to the restructuring process which the Ministry has embarked on, they realised that expertise and professional skills that Dr Mosotho has acquired are needed for the improvement of health services in the district of Thaba-Tseka, hence his assignment.

Dr Ramatlapeng said since the transfer, Dr Mosotho has not reported himself at work, but still gets his full monthly salary and resides at the government house in Maseru without paying it.

'The Ministry has patiently waited for Dr Mosotho to resume his duties in Thaba-Tseka, where he has also been given a residential house,' she said.

Dr Ramatlapeng further told the House that Dr Mosotho resigned from the government when he was the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health in 1999 and came back in 2004 and signed a two-year contract as a consultant of the Ministry.

She added that his contract was renewed for three years in 2006, adding that while he was Principal Secretary, Dr Mosotho had appointed one doctor to be the Medical Superintendent of Queen II hospital.

She noted that Dr Mosotho had acted as the Medical Superintendent in 2007, but clarified that the position is now occupied by another doctor.

The Minister was responding to a question by the Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu, Chief Khoabane Theko.

Chief Theko wanted the Minister to apprise the House on the circumstances surrounding Dr Mosotho's departure from Queen Elizabeth II hospital.

Source: LENA 08/05/2008