Central Hospital's Cardiac Unit loses 10 doctors in 7 years

An investigation into Windhoek Central Hospital’s Cardiac Unit says about 10 medical officers have left since 2019 amid severe staff shortages, management failures and disputes among senior doctors that reportedly threatened patient safety.The 22-page report, dated 27 July 2026, identifies excessive workloads, verbal abuse, inadequate supervision and poor working conditions affecting the unit, which provides specialised heart care to adults and children.Windhoek Central Hospital medical superintendent Dr Shitaleni C. Herman signed the covering letter submitting the investigation report and its recommendations to the health ministry’s executive director.The investigation said the unit had only 10 medical officers against a requirement of between 21 and 28, leaving a shortage of up to 18 doctors. It also said the unit had operated without a functional head of department for an extended period, while disagreements between consultants reportedly contributed to treatment delays and gaps in overnight medical cover.The panel recommended changes to the management, staffing and clinical procedures, alongside disciplinary proceedings against paediatric cardiologist Dr Fenny Shidhika over alleged misconduct. Shidhika resigned on 7 October.According to the report, medical officers cited verbal abuse, excessive workloads, inadequate guidance and a toxic working environment among their reasons for leaving.Paediatric cardiology had only one medical officer against a requirement of four to six, while adult cardiology had three against a requirement of five to eight. Cardiothoracic surgery had five against a requirement of six to eight, and the cardiac intensive care unit had one against a requirement of six.The report noted that the sole paediatric cardiology medical officer was not participating in call duties, while the officer assigned to cardiac intensive care was reportedly awaiting transfer.Medical officers were sometimes required to cover different subspecialties without appropriate training, including paediatric cardiology, while the unit's initial six-month training programme had been discontinued.Some staff reportedly left their positions without securing alternative employment, while others experienced anxiety, depression and burnout. Patient care at riskThe investigation linked staffing shortages and disagreements between consultants to gaps in overnight medical cover, delays in critical interventions and conflicting treatment instructions.“Multiple witnesses described direct impacts on patient care such as gaps in call rosters leaving patients without adequate overnight medical cover, competing management plans from multiple consultants, without consensus, creating clinical risk.“Delay in critical interventions due to inter-consultant disagreements, and absence of clinical protocols and standard operating procedures in the Cardiac ICU,” the report read.Patients were reportedly left waiting for cardiac surgery because of staffing constraints and disputes among specialists. The panel also identified inconsistent referral arrangements, poor communication and the absence of regular multidisciplinary meetings and reviews of patient outcomes.The panel found that the unit's four subspecialties — paediatric cardiology, adult cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and cardiac intensive care — lacked effective coordination, while hospital management had failed to establish clear reporting lines and mechanisms for resolving disputes.Communication between some consultants had deteriorated to the point where junior medical officers were reportedly used to relay messages between senior specialists. Disagreements sometimes resulted in as many as three separate ward rounds in one day, creating confusion over patient treatment.“Conflict between consultants has occurred openly in front of patients, junior staff, and nursing staff, including public accusations of patient harm,” the report read.The panel recommended separating the four subspecialties into independently managed clinical units, recruiting additional medical officers, introducing standard clinical procedures and restoring multidisciplinary meetings.It also called for improved supervision, psychological support for affected employees and confidential grievance procedures.Allegations against ShidhikaThe investigation separately recommended disciplinary proceedings against Shidhika over allegations of verbal abuse, insubordination and breaches of procurement and human resources procedures.“Formal disciplinary proceedings against Shidhika should be initiated without further delay, based on the documented pattern of verbal abuse, insubordination, circumvention of procurement and HR processes, and conduct unbecoming of a professional,” the report read.A charge sheet attached to the report lists allegations under the Public Service Act relating to conduct said to have occurred between January and July 2024.Shidhika allegedly described medical officers as “incompetent, unskilled, unintelligent, and not worthy of their position” and junior staff as “uneducated, incompetent, and just ‘salary collectors’”.Other remarks attributed to her include “you have killed my patient”, “you are not well trained” and “you should not be here”.The charge sheet also alleges that she sent “threatening and demeaning messages via the unit WhatsApp group, visible to all members including nursing staff”.The investigation described a breakdown in the working relationship between Shidhika and paediatric intensivist Dr Kaizer Fitzwanga, with communication between them reportedly taking place through medical officers rather than directly.The panel recommended professional mediation, noting that Shidhika had exercised oversight responsibilities without formal authority while other consultants had allegedly undermined her position.The report does not establish that Shidhika was found guilty of misconduct or confirm whether disciplinary proceedings were subsequently instituted.In her resignation letter addressed to health minister Esperance Luvindao, Shidhika cited humiliation, threats and institutional pressure to accept what she considered inadequate healthcare standards.Shidhika said she could no longer remain a “helpless witness” to what she regarded as violations of the public's right to quality healthcare.“It is an organisation I treasured and served with utmost dedication. I owed this dedication to the organisation and to the country. I tried my best to promote the highest quality and standards of care, I tried to be a patriot,” she wrote.Shidhika, who questioned how the report was leaked, declined to address the individual allegations on Sunday. “Everything has been said. Go back to who gave you this one and ask why they did. It was an instigated mission.“This is not how solutions are born. I have a huge duty and responsibility to the patients and country. I want to be afforded an opportunity to focus,” she said.

Central Hospital's Cardiac Unit loses 10 doctors in 7 years

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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Central Hospital's Cardiac Unit loses 10 doctors in 7 years

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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