Eastern Cape Health on health services transformation

Health Department rejects media reports on transform health
services

25 May 2007

The Eastern Cape Department of Health wishes to reject the false impressions
being continuously created in the media about its proposed plan to transform
health services in the province.

The article by the Daily Dispatch health reporter entitled "Secret plan, let
the people speak" is incorrect on the following grounds:

* There is no secret plan that the department is hiding from the people. The
proposed Service Transformation Plan is merely a draft proposal that is
currently being discussed at Cabinet Committee level before it is presented to
the Executive Committee for consideration.

* The department intends to improve health service in the province through
various initiatives that have been implemented over time, to ensure access to
services, and address the quality of care. These initiatives include hospital
upgrades, renovation of clinics, and improvement of EMS as well as completely
upgrading the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital. Through these initiatives, the
department will increase accessibility of services, improve care, and ensure
that communities access services developed close to them in line with their
needs and burden of the disease profile of the area surrounding the relevant
hospitals.

The department rejects any false impression being created which suggests
that quality services, including specialist services, will not be available to
the people of Mdantsane or any other community in the province.

The Superintendent-General of the Eastern Cape Department of Health has not
overstepped his authority. The opinion piece in the Daily Dispatch to that
effect is malicious and discriminating. The department actively promotes good
governance. The department is implementing a National Health Council Resolution
of January 2006. The plan is part of a national initiative where the entire
province is engaging in improving the delivery of health services in line with
the National Health Act.

It would appear that the editor of the Daily Dispatch has a short memory.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health at the end of June 2006, held a
Provincial Health Indibano which was attended by 700 stakeholders broadly
representative of various sectors who deliberated over the state of health
service delivery in the Eastern Cape. The parties at this Indibano agreed to,
among other commitments, the following declaration:

* That the provincial Department of Health will make available resources
necessary for the broadest possible consultation process leading up to the
formulation, adoption and implementation of an Eastern Cape Provincial Health
Delivery Transformation Plan.

* That the province will hold a Provincial Health summit as a follow up with
the purpose of launching a Comprehensive Provincial Health Delivery
Transformation Plan.

We reiterate that there is no secrete plan. Proper consultations will take
place once the Executive Committee has pronounced upon this proposed plan.

Enquiries:
Sizwe Kupelo
Cell: 083 378 0196

Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
25 May 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)

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