Health care

Global Health Watch 3 comprises five broad sections. The first section, entitled ‘The global political and economic architecture’, provides an analysis to locate the decisions and choices that impact on health. The second section, ‘Health systems – current issues and debates’, provides a view of current issues and debates on health systems across the world, from which it is possible to draw appropriate lessons and propose concrete actions for promoting health. The third section, ‘Beyond health care’, is a recognition that health encompasses areas beyond the provision of health care.

Health system strengthening is a key objective in both the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement and the Re-engineered Primary Health Care approach. Effective utilisation of routine data is crucial for improving the effectiveness of service delivery as well as for improvement of health information systems. There remains considerable scope for improved utilisation of routine data for quality improvement.

THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSTS A CONFERENCE THEMED “NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE: LESSONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA”

Purpose

Health Systems Trust (HST) will celebrate twenty years of supporting health service delivery in South and southern Africa in 2012. This is a long time in the life of any non-governmental organisation and we attribute this to HST’s enduring commitment to quality and never being content to deliver simply technically correct products and services that merely meet the minimum requirements of health systems strengthening policies and frameworks. Through our work we strive to inspire – not only our clients, but also ourselves. We strive to be associated with products and services that are inspirational and we realise how important it is to have our own internal systems operating like clockwork to enable us to execute our vision and mission.

South Africa is in the process of introducing an innovative system of healthcare financing with far reaching consequences on the health of South Africans. The National Health Insurance commonly referred to as NHI will ensure that everyone has access to appropriate, efficient and quality health services. It will be phased-in over a period of 14 years. This will entail major changes in the service delivery structures, administrative and management systems.

Health Systems Trust (HST) is a dynamic not-for-profit organisation (NPO) established in 1992 to support the transformation of the health system in a new democratic South Africa. Subscribing to a primary health care approach, HST actively supports current and future development of a comprehensive health system, through strategies designed to promote equity and efficiency in health and health care delivery in southern Africa.

HST’s Structure

HST employs about 50 staff members in two directorates, Programmes and Corporate Services, that collaborate in achieving the organisation’s goals. HST relies on the services of independent consultants when project demands exceed the capacity of the core staff.