Date: 01/08/2005
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: Launch of Free State Provincial Health Council


  The Speech of the Free State MEC for Health, Mr Sakhiwo Belot at the launch of the Free State Provincial Health Council, Bloemfontein.

Programme Director;
Honoured Members of the Provincial Health Authority
Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.

The department has come a long way in the establishment of our aspirations and ideas through the proclamation on of the National Health Act by the President in May 2005. This Act is a major piece of legislation and brings together various elements of the health sector within a common goal of an accessible, quality health care. Community participation and partnerships are a critical success factor in the consolidation of the clay and mortar of our years of democracy and meeting the challenges of improving health services in our province.

One of the provisions of this Act is to establish the Provincial Health Council. However, before I announce the names the members of the Council, allow me to travel back to the inauguration of the Provincial Health Authority (PHA) and the Provincial Health Advisory Board (PHAB) by my predecessor in August 2001. For us, the inauguration of the PHA, as the overarching governance structure, was in particular a historical moment. It created a framework within which health governance in the province was strengthened and allowed us to concretise the partnership and work relations between all spheres of government.

For five years, health councillors, health administrators, academics, members of hospital boards, district health councils all worked together to ensure that community participation was enhanced; community advocacy in health matters was strengthened; played a pivotal role in the integration of and devolution of health services in the province; monitored and evaluated service delivery and identified service gaps and challenges in the supply of health services to the community and more importantly, spearheaded the establishment of the Free State Initiation School Health Act, (Act 1 of 2004).

In recognition of the important role played by these very valuable members of our community, I now call forward the following members of the Provincial Health Authority:

* Ms ENA Rumane
* Mr WR Ndlebe
* Ms KD Motshabi
* Ms ME Khoathela
* Ms L Selagae
* Mr P van Wyk
* Mr PHI Makgoe
* Mr MJ Mafereka
* Mr P Noe
* Mr M Fikizolo
* Ms F Chaine
* Dr VE Blekkie
* Mr VA Adonis and
* Ms TD Bendile

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the long hours and absolute dedication you as members of the Provincial Health Authority showed. Your valued contribution will be remembered in the years to come as it ensured that we went beyond merely functioning but actually improved and shaped the future of health governance in the province. I now officially dissolve the structure that was called the Provincial Health Authority to make way for the Free State Provincial Health Council. All powers and functions of the Provincial Health Authority revert to the newly established Provincial Health Council as is promulgated in the National Health Act.

Ladies and Gentlemen: according to Chapter 2 Section 22 of the National Health Act, the Provincial Health Council consists of one councillor from each district municipality, the head of the Free State Department of Health, three representatives involved in the management of local government and three persons which I will nominate at a later stage after consulting with the Council at the first meeting. And last but not least, the MEC of Health which acts as chairperson of the Council. The functions of the Council would be to advise me on the following:

* Policy matters that will protect, promote, improve and maintain the health of the Free State population
* Propose legislation relating to health matters before it is introduced in the Free State Provincial Legislature;
* On norms and standards for the establishment of health establishments, guidelines on the management of health districts
* The implementation of national and provincial health policy and
* Perform other functions, which will be determined in the course of existence of the present council.

I am looking forward to our first meeting where we will set up the program for the year and the specific functions to be performed by the Council. At this meeting I will also elaborate on the specific linkage this Council has with the National Health Council, as chaired by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

I now would like to call the following members, who will be appointed for a period of five years, forward to receive their letters of appointment to the first Free State Provincial Health Council:

* Ms L Dlamini – Motheo District
* Ms AEN Rumane – Xhariep District
* Ms KD Motshabi – Lejweleputswa District
* Ms ME Khoathela – Northern Free State District, and
* Mr WR Ndlebe – Thabo Mafutsanyana District.

* Mr S Shuping – acting Head of Department

I will also appoint representatives from local government and other key members in the near future to serve on the Council.

Supporting the Council will be the provincial Health Advisory Committee that will be appointed soon. Wide representation from the medical profession, traditional healers, tertiary institutions, pharmacy, medicine manufacturers, and clinic committees will be sought to strengthen health governance in the province.

Ladies and Gentlemen: this Council is an instrument of co-operative governance as envisaged in the Constitution. It is therefore important that we interact with each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust so that we can secure the well being of the people of our province and preserve peace, unity and indivisibility of the province and the country. The National Health Act states that the Council determines the procedures for its meetings. The Council is empowered to consult with and receive representations from any person or organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen before I let the newly announced Council get on with their business, may I remind us all that the Minister of Health recently released the draft Health Charter for public comment. I want to encourage all stakeholders engaged in the health sector to actively engage in discussions and comments on the Charter. To me, the Charter represents the intensive efforts of the ruling party to continuously strive to improve life towards a better life for all.

The theme of the Charter is “Partnerships towards a better health care for all” and is very appropriate as it will be a major responsibility of the Council in future to ensure that, as a governing body, it provide a link in the chain of health governance in this province contributing to the national effort. The Charter aims at building partnerships between the private and public sectors to ensure equitable, quality health care for all South Africans. Comments are welcomed before the 15th of August.

I trust that the establishment of the Council will assist us in building on the progress we have made in transforming the health sector over the past 11 years. Therefore, it will enable us to move as a united force in our endeavour to strengthen our health system keeping in mind the principles of equity, accessibility and quality health services.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
01 August 2005