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The Minister of Health has revealed in a reply to a parliamentary question that the Department of Health has postponed the South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) for the fourth consecutive year.

The purpose of this survey is to collect crucial data needed to assess and develop health policy.

I shall be submitting further questions to find out why the Department of Health did not budget for the Demographic Survey and why they have taken so long to secure funding from Treasury to carry out this crucial survey.

The Demographic Survey is a vital tool to ensure government programmes are reaching those they are intended for. Every five years a country is expected to produce a Demographic Survey and produce a country report based on the survey to the World Health Organisation.

The Department of Health last conducted this survey eight years ago in 2003. In his reply, the Minister stated that he has submitted a request for funding and that the next survey would be conducted in 2012. This nine-year gap is simply not good enough.

Without this data, government cannot provide high-quality healthcare to the public, reduce the high disease burden and ensure a responsive health system. It is crucial that government regularly and effectively monitors the effect of its policies on the population at large.

The Minister has some explaining to do.