public hospitals and clinics
9 March 2006
The MEC for Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, has today outlined plans that the
provincial Department of Health has to improve the working conditions of health
professionals in Gauteng and to purchase more medical equipment.
In a presentation to the finance committee of the Gauteng Legislature,
Ramokgopa said the Department would undertake a series of measures to recruit
and retain health professionals in the public health system.
The measures include continuing the aggressive recruitment drive started
last year, upgrading certain levels of staff where there is high turnover,
improving the working environment and the appointment of additional student
nurses.
Health professionals who will benefit from the revision in salary notches
are pharmacists, registrars, social workers, orthotists/medical prosthetics,
medical physicists, primary health care nurses, physciatric nurses, forensic
nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and hearing
therapists, nursing educators as well as clinical engineers.
In an effort to increase the availability of nurses the Department intends
to open one nursing college this year and double the number of nursing students
in the next three years starting with 20 percent this year.
Hospital managers will also be given more authority to fully administer
their institutions. This matter was discussed with hospital managers at a
meeting held earlier this year.
Last year the Department undertook a major recruitment drive which resulted
in the appointment of 1991 health professionals by January this year. These
consisted of 1113 medical professionals, 357 nursing professionals and 521
allied health professionals.
"We have seen a trend of net gain in the number of health professionals
joining the department compared to those that resign. We will take all measures
necessary to ensure that this trend continues," MEC said.
The Department also intends to make more equipment available in hospitals
for the treatment of patients. Last year the Department used its R526 836 000
budget for new machinery and equipment to buy Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
scanner for Johannesburg, Helen Joseph and Chris Hani Baragwaneth
hospitals.
New equipment was also purchased for the new Pretoria Academic Hospital and
the oncology unit at Johannesburg hospital. A new MRI scanner will be purchased
for Dr George Mukhari Hospital this year.
For further enquiries contact:
Simon Zwane
Tel: (011) 355 3503
Cell: 083 785 5415
E-mail: Simonz@gpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
9 March 2006
Source: SAPA
