agreement making more doctors available for HIV and AIDS patients
16 March 2006
The MEC for Health in Gauteng, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, will today sign a
groundbreaking agreement with SAMA to improve the availability of doctors at
sites providing the comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, care and management
programme including antiretroviral therapy.
The agreement will allow doctors in private practice (general practitioners)
to work in government clinics and hospitals providing treatment to AIDS
survivors. Initially the doctors will be paid by Tshepang Trust, a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) established by SAMA. The Department will
eventually take over the payments to ensure that the project remains
sustainable and to offer a community-based approach to HIV and AIDS
treatment.
General practitioners will also be enabled to treat patients, who are on the
government treatment programme, in their own private rooms. It is hope that
this would help in making more doctors available to provide treatment to people
living with AIDS and would ensure that the government programme reaches as many
people as possible.
The media is invited to witness the signing of the agreement.
Details are as follows:
Date: 16 March 2006
Time: 19H00
Venue: Park Hyatt Hotel, Rosebank
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Tel: (011) 355 3503
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
16 March 2006
Source: Gauteng Department of Health (http://www.health.gpg.gov.za/)
