More than 20 million visits were made to primary healthcare facilities in Gauteng during the 2012/13 financial year.The overall headcount of patient visits to PHC facilities in province increased from 22 711 585 in 2011/12 to 23 063 294 in 2012/13, presenting a two million increase on the number of expected visits.
The increase in visits can be attributed to the ward-based outreach teams who encourage community members to seek healthcare where necessary. This sign of confidence is revealed in the department’s 2012/13 annual report which Gauteng Health MEC, Mr Hope Papo will present at the provincial legislature this afternoon. The visits also indicate a positive response to the department’s call for communities to go to their local clinics for healthcare and only go to a hospital when they are referred and are in need of specialised care.
The department provides comprehensive primary healthcare services in all its Community Health Centres (CHCs). It offers 24 hour services at 26 of the 32 CHCs. Ward-based community health outreach teams are active in 49 municipal wards. There ensure that households are visited and services are offered to frail people in their homes.
Primary healthcare has been further enhanced by ensuring that each CHC has a resident doctor and a specialist family physician. Every health district has a core specialist team, comprising obstetricians and paediatricians to provide guidance to staff at CHCs and clinics within the district.
The department also provides extensive training to existing personnel and offers bursaries to members of the public wishing to study for occupations in which there are critical staff shortages. A total of 4 397 students were awarded bursaries in targeted areas during the financial year 2012/13. In addition, 1 853 400 patients attended Out-Patient departments (OPDs) at regional hospitals and 2 597 531 were seen at OPDs of central hospitals.
“During the current financial year, the department will continue to strengthen primary prevention of diseases through health promotion and by encouraging communities to make use of their local clinics,” said department’s spokesperson Simon Zwane. In the province, there is continuous effort to improve access to care by increasing the number of healthcare facilities, extending hours of service and attending to minor issues which may discourage people from using health services.
During the MECs presentation of the annual report, these and other achievements of the department such as reduction of accruals, maternal and child mortality, teenage pregnancies and combating HIV and AIDS will be detailed.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
