As part of ongoing initiatives and programmes to provide integrated patient centred services, the Gauteng Department of Health will on 15-16 February 2018, host inaugural Research and Innovation Summit at Birchwood, in Boksburg.

The summit themed, “Evidence and innovation for long and healthy lives: confronting risks and unlocking the potentials” aims to create a learning opportunity that will bring together academia, administrators, students, community representatives, oversight bodies, lawmakers, health service providers, exhibitors and leaders from across the Gauteng City Region.

The overarching objective is to increase awareness about the need to use evidence based research and improve stakeholder participation in the delivery of an effective health system. This is line with the priorities made by Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Gwen Ramokgopa in the Budget Vote Address last year to repurpose and modernise the department.

“We have engaged the support of the National eHealth team, the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of eGovernance regarding Transformation, Modernisation and Re-Industrialisation.

“Already significant progress has been made in reducing waiting times in patient administration, improving availability of medicines, improving communication with pregnant mothers for antenatal and postnatal care as well as in saving costs due to inventory management.

“Building on these successes an integrated interoperable system will, empower patients to understand their health and access to the health system, enable better care as well as improve the efficiency of the health system,” said Dr Ramokgopa.

The Summit will cover various health disciplines such as Mental Health, integrated management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, innovative approach to health care services (preparing for roll-out of National Health Insurance), Improved  health  and well-being of children and woman and the sustainable development goals amongst others.

For more information please contact:
Lesemang Matuka
Cell: 072 025 3605
E-mail: mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za