Healthcare

PRESS RELEASE: EMBARGOED UNTIL 19H00, WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2005

Most sections of the National Health Act, which lays the foundation for efficient delivery of Primary Health Care to all citizens, have now come into effect. In addition a draft strategic framework for Human Resources, which sets the basis for a long term Human Resources for Health plan and priority areas for immediate action, has been released by the Department of Health to address HR challenges in the country.

The worldwide shortage of health workers means that rich countries are not likely to stop poaching health workers from poorer countries.

Governments plans to place all its employees on a single medical scheme would increase the states control over the medical benefits it provided to public servants, save money, and help relieve the burden on public hospitals and clinics, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said yesterday.

The health departments human resources plan has finally been released, and now the discussions can begin about how to ensure that the country has enough health workers to serve the nation.

The health department's human resources plan has finally been released, and now the real discussions can begin about how to ensure that the country has enough health workers

South Africa faces the most intricate human resource challenges characteristic of health systems in many other countries. Ensuring an adequate human resource pool for the staffing of especially the public health sector is a major task that is complicated by many global and disease burden challenges. Even though the private health sector is not experiencing the same pressures to the same degree, maldistribution within this sector is a serious challenge. Developing a human resource plan for health is very high on the agenda of the National Department of Health. It is globally recognized that a focused human resource strategy backed up by an appropriate implementation plan is a critical ingredient of positive change in health care. Success in this area helps create a positive image and an environment conducive for health care to flourish. Equity, efficiency and effectiveness of the health system depend on the two elements a visionary strategy and a focused plan being appropriately developed and implemented.

A new human resources plan should provide a framework for stemming the emigration of health workers from South Africa, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Wednesday.

The cabinet has agreed to the creation of a risk equalisation fund to ensure access to health care for all South Africans, President Thabo Mbeki said yesterday.

Reports in recent weeks suggest that health care in SA is in crisis.

Government has introduced a draft Health Charter aimed at improving access, equity and quality in healthcare and levels of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) in the country.