6 August 2007
Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa last week announced the establishment of
the department's Programme Management Unit (PMU) aimed at turning around
healthcare delivery in Gauteng.
The PMU is aimed at fast tracking a number of key health initiatives in
Gauteng. "We have created a caring and responsive system that will result in a
healthy and productive province," said Hlongwa.
The new unit will be responsible for the Quality of HealthCare programmes
announced in the department's annual budget speech in June 2007. They
include:
* the Healthy Living Campaign, a community based initiative to promote
healthy lifestyles
* the strategic management of the province's facilities including clinics and
hospitals and the planning of new facilities
* quality delivery of health services to meet professional standards and client
expectations
* the introduction of smart cards and Information Technology (IT) solutions to
streamline patient care processes at hospitals and clinics
* the transfer and administration of services such as Emergency Management
Services and Forensic Pathology that recently became the responsibility of the
province.
"We are introducing project management principles into key activities of the
department," says MEC Hlongwa.
The new office will be a small unit reporting directly to the Head of
Department, Sybil Ngcobo, but with the ability to draw in the skills and
knowledge from other managers in the department.
A private sector consortium has also been appointed by the department
following a public tender process to assist the department with project
management.
Hlongwa says there will be a distinct shift in emphasis towards the vigorous
promotion of healthy lifestyles as an alternative to a reliance on treatment
and medication. "More than 70% of patients who visit our facilities suffer from
ailments that could have been prevented. We have to reach them with correct
information and support before they reach our hospitals."
More than one thousand new community health workers will be appointed in the
province to spearhead this campaign. They will receive thorough training and
then deployed within their own communities to provide information and advice on
key issues such as:
* nutrition and healthy eating habits
* the danger of smoking and substance abuse
* the benefits of exercising
* safe sexual practices
* stress management.
"These are cost-effective programmes designed to help people change their
lifestyles. We will see the benefits of these interventions through an
improvement in the health status of our people," said Hlongwa.
The functioning of the unit will also result in a reduction in the demand
for services at provincial facilities.
The department will also soon introduce a new "smart card" that will
streamline processes at hospitals and clinics shorten queues and reduce waiting
times. These cards will also contain the medical history of the patient to
enable doctors and professionals to make faster diagnoses.
The department will soon put out requests for proposals to run pilot
projects at selected facilities. The results will be thoroughly evaluated and
this will be followed by a public tender process.
The introduction of project management skills principles will lead to a more
efficient health department. "It will look at all aspects of budgeting,
expenditure and the allocation of resources. One of the short term objectives
is to receive a clean audit report from the Auditor-General's office in the
2008/09 financial year," he says.
Emergency Management Services is a key component of the province's planning
for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The province recently started the process to
take over responsibility for this from local governments.
"We want uniform standards to apply across the province and have proper
emergency plans in place that will enable us to deal effectively with any
situation that might arise," added Hlongwa.
The unit is expected to be operational before the last quarter of 2007.
For more information contact:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 August 2007
Source: SAPA
