Members of Parliament from the National Council of Provinces in the Free State are impressed with the quality of health care facilities they viewed yesterday in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality. The delegation, which is on a week-long oversight programme known as Provincial week, visited two health facilities, Tina Moloi Clinic and Elizabeth Ross Hospital.
The delegation is of the view that the standard of these facilities is a major step in the right direction for the implementation of the government’s National Health Insurance policy, which will improve access to quality healthcare services for the whole population, and health promotion and prevention services at the community and household level.
“It is heart-warming to see such world-class health infrastructure in rural Phuthaditjhaba. The newly built Tina Moloi Clinic, which was built to the tune of R8.3m including equipment, is of the standard that rural people everywhere in South Africa deserve,” said Ms Manana Tlake, the leader of the delegation.
“Furthermore, the delegation applauds the management of the facilities for their sterling work in ensuring that these facilities are clean and there are no queues in sight. It is also worth noting that the facilities did not raise the issue of shortage of essential medication, which is a good barometer for effective health care systems,” Ms Tlake said.
While the infrastructure is to be applauded, the facility faces a similar challenge with a shortage of human resources as faced by other health facilities nationwide. The Clinic’s staff complement is currently at 50%, meaning that the facility is operating at half of its capacity. The delegation is of the view that the shortage of skilled healthcare practitioners remains a major impediment to the effective implementation of the NHI.
To reverse this problem, the delegation calls on the provincial and national departments of health to further strengthen their campaigns to lure young South Africans to professions within the healthcare industry.
For media enquiries or interviews with the leader of the delegation, please contact:
Name: Evans Molepo
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 073 297 1914
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
