Eastern Cape Health MEC Dr Bevan Goqwana was fired by the premier this week, leaving a department which under his stewardship failed to properly account for R18.1 billion out of a total budget of R22.6 billion. Critical staff shortages, severe under spending, dilapidated hospitals and crumbling infrastructure, corruption charges, shortages of essential medical equipment and medicine – are just some of the characteristics that underpinned Goqwana's tenure as Eastern Cape's Health MEC since 1999.