clinical services on behalf of Mr Sakhiwo Belot MEC for Health at the Medical
Research Council /MTN South African Foundation and South African Telemedicine
launch, Botshabelo District Hospital
12 March 2009
Program director
Honourable Minister Derick Hanekom, Minster of Department of Science and
Technology
Ms Beatrice Marshoff, Premier
Professor Mbewu, President of the South African Medical Research Council
Mr Z Masiza, Chief Corporate Service Officer, MTN South Africa
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Excellence in health care delivery in our province today took another step
forward with the reception of this generous contribution from the Medical
Research Council of South African and the MTN South Africa Foundation. Health
care delivery in the country and as such also in the Free State is delivery to
millions of people annually against a background of scarce resources. It is
within this environment that many of our health care professionals are
challenged every day to provide quality service and having to make do with what
they have.
It is a true fact that our health care environment stretches the abilities
of the available health care professionals to its limit. It is priority to
optimally utilise the available health professionals and to subsequently use
all technological resources to our disposal.
Program director, the telemedicine project in the Free State is an example
of how, after initial explorative research into the existing tele-health
experiences nationally and internationally a project of this nature was
introduced in the Free State. The project was amongst others introduced since
the drain of health care professionals from peripheral areas to the more
developed urban centres and difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified
staff in peripheral areas puts an additional burden on our human resource
management. Many of our peripheral health care professionals also find
themselves isolated from their peers.
The introduction of a telemedicine program enabled us to:
* enhance service delivery and accessibility of health care
* upgrade the diagnostic abilities of hospitals and primary health care
clinics, resulting in better quality of care
* provide access that is readily available for rural communities to specialist
medical care
* education, training and capacity building in peripheral hospitals
* health promotion opportunities for patients through mindsets.
The telemedicine program also contributes directly and indirectly our
patients and members of the community through reducing long queues at
specialist clinics; reducing waiting periods via a booking system, better case
management and limited administrative procedures.
Program director, it is not only our patients, clients and health care
workers who benefit but the Department of Health in the Free State as a whole.
With this system we reduce transport costs and accommodation costs for health
care professionals and decreased overtime for drivers and escort nurses, limit
patient overcrowding at hospitals and impact on the availability of staff at
institutions. On the whole the system allows us to work more efficient and
effectively.
Program director, may I express my gratitude and appreciation to the Medical
Research Council (MRC) and MTN South Africa Foundation for their generous
support. I need to mention that in the new financial year we have made funding
available for the roll-out of telemedicine in the province. Four of our
regional hospitals will benefit Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom; Boitumelo
Regional Hospital in Kroonstad; Dihlabeng Regional Hospital in Bethlehem and
the Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional in QwaQwa. The Diamant District Hospital
in Jagersfontein will also be added.
Packages for regional hospitals will include: tele-radiology,
tele-dermatology, tele-ophthalmology, tele-trauma, tele-ear, nose and throat
(ENT), tele-cardiology (ECG), Videoconferencing, tele-consultation and vital
signs monitoring.
In conclusion, as we look in the future, rehabilitation, education,
training, organisational and leadership expectations will be dramatically
changed by technology and distance provision of health care and knowledge
transfer. The telemedicine system allows us to be more creative, proactive,
productive and on the cutting edge of health care delivery. The support from
the private sector is obviously important and we are looking forward to future
successful partnerships with the MRC and MTN South Africa.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
12 March 2009
