Minister of Health

Request for Expression of Interest from General Practitioners to Provide Clinical Services in Public Primary Health Care Clinics

Employer: 
National Department of Health
Closing Date: 
29 March 2013

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FROM GENERAL PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE CLINICAL SERVICES IN PUBLIC PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CLINICS WITHIN THE 10 NHI PILOT DISTRICTS

The National Department of Health has embarked on an initiative to improve and expand access to healthcare services through the contracting of private General Medical Practitioners (GPs) to render sessional service in Primary Healthcare facilities. This initiative is in support of the National Health Insurance (NHl) pilot that aims to improve access to high quality public sector health care services. The initial phase of GP contracting for sessional services will take place in the 10 NHI pilot Districts, which are:

DHS News - Newsletter of the District Health System

Series Name: 
District Health System Newsletter
Published by: 
Department of Health (South Africa)

This is the first issue of the DHS News for 2012! Much has happened during the first 4 months of this year. To begin, the Minister of Health made the much-anticipated announcement of the names of the first 10 NHI pilot districts! The Minister has already commenced with road shows in these pilot districts to inform stakeholders of plans to strengthen the coverage and quality of care in these areas over the next 5 years. He also asked for inputs from stakeholders on their views of what needs to be done in addition to the planned activities. It is critical for district management teams to be fully involved with the creation of the plan.

Criteria for the Selection of NHI Pilot Districts

Published by: 
Department of Health (South Africa)

The Green Paper on National Health Insurance (NHI) was published on 12th August 2011 and it indicates that NHI will be implemented gradually in three phases over a fourteen year period. The implementation of NHI is aimed at ensuring universal access to quality healthcare on a more sustainable and equitable basis than currently exists for the entire population. The implementation of NHI is a priority of Government as articulated in Government’s Programme of Action as well as the Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement. In order for the health sector to contribute towards achieving A Long and Healthy Life for All South Africans, the Minister of Health has committed to the following NSDA outputs:
a) Increased life expectancy

Presentations from the Launch of the SAHR 2011, DHB 2010/11 and Announcement of the Facility Improvement Teams

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

The Launch of the South African Health Review 2011, District Health Barometer 2010/11 and Announcement of the Facility Improvement Teams was held 23 February 2012 in at the  Southern Suns Pretoria.  Guest speakers included the Honourable Minster of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as well as other leading public health figures such as Professor Laetitia Rispel and Dr Tim Wilson.

Below please find presentations given at the launch:

Highlights from SAHR 2011(2 Mb)
Professor Laetitia Rispel, Chairperson HST Health Systems Research Committee

Human Resources for Health: HRH Strategy for the Health Sector: 2012/13 – 2016/17

Published by: 
Department of Health (South Africa)

Workforce planning for the health service is challenging and complex. Nonetheless, workforce planning is an important process. The health, policy, legislative and economic context influence the task of visualising and implementing improvements in the health workforce. The policy context provides the framework for the development of the HRH Strategy. The Minister of Health, in his Budget Speech in May 2011, announced the re-engineering of the Primary Health Care system and the overhaul of the health system.
Implementing the three main streams for re-engineering Primary Health Care is the short-term priority. These streams are: District Clinical Specialist teams, a School Health Programme and Community Outreach PHC Teams.

The Problem Statement

Monitoring the effect of the new rural allowance for health professionals

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
This study is the first attempt to assess the effect of the new rural allowance on the motivation and movement of health professionals working in rural areas. Although methodologically limited, the study gives some indication of the likely impact of the funds allocated by Treasury, namely that almost one-third of health professionals working in rural areas say that they have changed their career plans next year as a result of the new allowance. It is difficult to assess whether this is the effect of the RA alone, or in combination with the SSA. Further evaluations will be necessary to assess the longer-term impact of these strategies.

Poverty Hearings

Series Name: 
HST Update
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
This issue of Update is an attempt to reinforce the findings of the Speak Out on Poverty Hearings, recently held throughout South Africa. Our health sector still mirrors the anomalies described above. Most health care resources in South Africa are still directed towards the wealthiest 30% of the population who can afford private medical services. While efforts are underway to redirect public resources, rural areas - where most poor people live - still have least access to effective services.

A National household survey of health inequalities in South Africa

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

OVERVIEW REPORT The first democratically elected government in South Africa has made improving health and health services for the historically underserved black majority a national prioity. As part of this process, in June 1995, the Minister of Health, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, outlined a plan designed to provide free primary health care to all South Africans. This plan aims to improve the health status of South Africans, as well as the quality of care, through increased emphasis on disease prevention and early intervention.