Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development Qedani Mahlangu tabled the department R16 billion budgets, earmarked to tackle shortcomings in health services delivery. The budget which is an eleven percent leap from last year will address health services deficiencies that confront Gauteng residents.
The twofold budget for the erstwhile Health and Social Development Departments which merged recently was tabled separately on 3 August 2009 at the Gauteng Legislature. MEC Mahlangu said she visited health institutions to identify key priority areas.
“Soon after I was appointed I met and interacted with patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals in a quest to identify areas which need urgent attention,” she added, “In line with our mandate we have reprioritised expenditure within the budget which will improve the public health system,” she said.
Part of vigorous actions taken by the department is the process of engaging the national and provincial Treasuries to improve sound financial management controls, supply chain management and concerns raised by the Auditor-General. The MEC said managers must cease from managing from a distance and warned hospitals Chief Executive Officers that they will account for service delivery at their facilities.
“Managers will be held responsible for appropriate management of the hospitals in terms of the budget, human resource and patient care,” she said. She added that the department had established regional management support teams to hospital managers.
The MEC said the department embarked on a two year turnaround time envisaged to improve services at ten hospitals in Gauteng which are; Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, Steve Biko Academic, Natalspruit, Helen Joseph, Leratong, Tabo Memorial, Edenvale and Pholosong hospital.
There are other six additional hospitals that will be improved, in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. They are; Kalafong, Odi, Jubilee, Dr George Mukhari, Sebokeng and Thembisa Hospital.
Waiting times will be things of the past. She said it will be reduced by fast queues for the elderly, people with disabilities and pregnant women and additional queue marshals will be introduced to assist patients.
The MEC warned food kiosks operating in all hospitals in Gauteng that the department will no longer tolerate selling of unacceptable food at the premises with effect from 1 September this year. These are efforts to enforce healthy lifestyles in the province. Kuyasheshwa-la!
The department's budget will focus amongst the following during this financial year:
* Patients being turned away from health facilities
* Overcrowding due to high patient volumes and the increase in the burden of disease
* Poor environmental conditions at our facilities for both patients and staff
* Intermittent interruption in the supply of medication
* Failure to procure appropriate and adequate medical equipment;
* Inappropriate deployment of managers with requisite skills at service delivery sites
* Backlog of surgical operations
* 18 000 cataract operations will be performed on the elderly in Gauteng to restore their sight
* 4 500 senior citizens will receive dentures
* 100 orthopedic joint replacement operations will be performed to address the surgical backlog
Henceforth, every employee shall wear their nametag in all health facilities and at head office.
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
4 August 2009
Source: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.health.gpg.gov.za/)
