Date: 06/08/2005
Source: SAPA
Title: Mlambo-Ngcuka: Anniversary of Legae
Address by the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the 10th year anniversary of Legae, Garankuwa
Programme Director,
The Premier of North West, Edna Molewa,
Chairman of Phodiso Holdings, Dr Msibi,
Hospital Manager, Mr Neil Oates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we set off into our next decade of freedom, we today pause at this important milestone of the 10th Anniversary of Legae founding to take stock of what we've achieved. It is not every day that we have an opportunity to celebrate success. Coinciding with 11 years of our country's democracy, and the economic opportunities which came with the ushering of democracy in our country, your 10 years is a confirmation of your belief in a vision and staying the course to attain it.
When we meet today we must, however, remind ourselves of the challenges that still confront us especially with regard to the enormous task of making health care affordable to ALL!
It cannot escape us that this celebration happens against the backdrop of our celebrating 49 years since that historic march of 20 000 thousand women to the Union Buildings in protest against the pass laws. Given that even today the greatest demand for affordable health care is to be found among women and children, this coincidence of anniversaries cannot only be of passing academic curiosity. It asks of Legae, as it does of every other provider in the health sector: What are you doing to ensure that every woman and child has affordable access to basic health care?
Nevertheless, there is general agreement that women's rights have been advanced since the inception of democracy in our country.
At a social level the government's 10-year review indicates that a lot of progress has been made, namely, that we have managed to provide basic services to the people like the provision of clean water sanitation and electricity. Indeed it has been shown that women have been among the main beneficiaries of these developments. The provision of affordable health care forms part of this objective of providing basic necessities to the people and remains one of government's priorities.
In this regard, we note with a sense of accomplishment that primary health care has expanded with the advent of free health care for pregnant women and children under six. In the process many clinics have been upgraded - scores of new ones built. The integrated nutrition programme, whilst definitely still needing further expansion, now accommodates more than 4.58 million children.
Government's comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS has indeed expanded rapidly. With expenditure increasing ten-fold since 1994 and set to increase again to reach R3,6 billion in 2005/06 there can be no doubting government's commitment to commit resources to fighting this pandemic.
When the Legae Private Clinics were established in 1995, we understood the significance of that step; we realised their importance as partners in terms of helping us to meet our health objectives. We are happy that there is stability and growth in your company since its inception.
The other reason we were happy when the Legae Private Clinics were established is because we realised the potential they had at the level of job creation and boosting the economy, and ensuring that there is greater equity in the workplace.
But most importantly, is the fact that Legae as a black company entering an industry that previously excluded black people has survived the challenges that normally face new black companies in the health industry.
The problems facing the health sector remain complex, but not unique to our country. The world is facing the perennial challenge of balancing the need to provide universal access to health care services with ensuring affordability and sustainability of their health financing systems.
It is for that reason that we will need to move with greater urgency to developing a common agenda and vision amongst ourselves as public and private health sector to find relevant solutions to our challenges.
Medical schemes have remained predominantly unaffordable as a result of various problems within the industry. Most notable of these are the high costs which have increasingly made medical schemes out of reach of most people.
This year the budget for the Public Health Sector in general has increased to R48.1 billion, an increase of 12,2% serving the population of 38 million people. On the other hand, the private sector expenditure is now close to R50 billion, and serving only 7 million medical scheme members. The combined figures of both the private and the public sector are close to R100 billion to spend on the health care in the country. This calls for closer co-operation and structural relationship between the two to ensure that these resources benefit the majority of people who require health care so that we get the best value for each rand we put into health system.
The process of developing a Charter for the health sector should provide an opportunity for us to develop trust and a common understanding of how the right of access to health as entrenched in our Constitution can be achieved. The Task Team has come up with proposals, which are open for consideration by all stakeholders, especially those in the health industry.
The deadline for comments is 15 August 2005. We hope that you will remain part of this process so that we can all realise the objectives of affording our people better health care. Government alone cannot realise these objectives that is why we always emphasise the need for private-public partnerships.
As government we welcome and encourage the efforts aimed at encouraging diversity in ownership and participation within the private health sector. We need to support new entrants into the private health sector market and ensure that new initiatives are not undermined by the few large players currently dominating the market. We have to ensure equity in ownership through viable black economic empowerment (BEE) initiatives, and most importantly we will need to ensure that women become key players as well.
These are some of the issues that the Health Charter will seek to address when it is finalised.
There is a need to broaden access to the private health, which currently consumes about 62% of total health care funds in South Africa while benefiting only 7 million of the 45 million South Africans and is concentrated in urban areas.
The move to improve access particularly to communities in rural, township and poorer provinces is welcomed and will be an integral part of this process.
In conclusion, I must encourage all health practitioners about the need to promote healthy living lifestyles and the importance of prevention and management of diseases.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
6 August 2005
Source: SAPA
Title: Mlambo-Ngcuka: Anniversary of Legae
Address by the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the 10th year anniversary of Legae, Garankuwa
Programme Director,
The Premier of North West, Edna Molewa,
Chairman of Phodiso Holdings, Dr Msibi,
Hospital Manager, Mr Neil Oates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we set off into our next decade of freedom, we today pause at this important milestone of the 10th Anniversary of Legae founding to take stock of what we've achieved. It is not every day that we have an opportunity to celebrate success. Coinciding with 11 years of our country's democracy, and the economic opportunities which came with the ushering of democracy in our country, your 10 years is a confirmation of your belief in a vision and staying the course to attain it.
When we meet today we must, however, remind ourselves of the challenges that still confront us especially with regard to the enormous task of making health care affordable to ALL!
It cannot escape us that this celebration happens against the backdrop of our celebrating 49 years since that historic march of 20 000 thousand women to the Union Buildings in protest against the pass laws. Given that even today the greatest demand for affordable health care is to be found among women and children, this coincidence of anniversaries cannot only be of passing academic curiosity. It asks of Legae, as it does of every other provider in the health sector: What are you doing to ensure that every woman and child has affordable access to basic health care?
Nevertheless, there is general agreement that women's rights have been advanced since the inception of democracy in our country.
At a social level the government's 10-year review indicates that a lot of progress has been made, namely, that we have managed to provide basic services to the people like the provision of clean water sanitation and electricity. Indeed it has been shown that women have been among the main beneficiaries of these developments. The provision of affordable health care forms part of this objective of providing basic necessities to the people and remains one of government's priorities.
In this regard, we note with a sense of accomplishment that primary health care has expanded with the advent of free health care for pregnant women and children under six. In the process many clinics have been upgraded - scores of new ones built. The integrated nutrition programme, whilst definitely still needing further expansion, now accommodates more than 4.58 million children.
Government's comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS has indeed expanded rapidly. With expenditure increasing ten-fold since 1994 and set to increase again to reach R3,6 billion in 2005/06 there can be no doubting government's commitment to commit resources to fighting this pandemic.
When the Legae Private Clinics were established in 1995, we understood the significance of that step; we realised their importance as partners in terms of helping us to meet our health objectives. We are happy that there is stability and growth in your company since its inception.
The other reason we were happy when the Legae Private Clinics were established is because we realised the potential they had at the level of job creation and boosting the economy, and ensuring that there is greater equity in the workplace.
But most importantly, is the fact that Legae as a black company entering an industry that previously excluded black people has survived the challenges that normally face new black companies in the health industry.
The problems facing the health sector remain complex, but not unique to our country. The world is facing the perennial challenge of balancing the need to provide universal access to health care services with ensuring affordability and sustainability of their health financing systems.
It is for that reason that we will need to move with greater urgency to developing a common agenda and vision amongst ourselves as public and private health sector to find relevant solutions to our challenges.
Medical schemes have remained predominantly unaffordable as a result of various problems within the industry. Most notable of these are the high costs which have increasingly made medical schemes out of reach of most people.
This year the budget for the Public Health Sector in general has increased to R48.1 billion, an increase of 12,2% serving the population of 38 million people. On the other hand, the private sector expenditure is now close to R50 billion, and serving only 7 million medical scheme members. The combined figures of both the private and the public sector are close to R100 billion to spend on the health care in the country. This calls for closer co-operation and structural relationship between the two to ensure that these resources benefit the majority of people who require health care so that we get the best value for each rand we put into health system.
The process of developing a Charter for the health sector should provide an opportunity for us to develop trust and a common understanding of how the right of access to health as entrenched in our Constitution can be achieved. The Task Team has come up with proposals, which are open for consideration by all stakeholders, especially those in the health industry.
The deadline for comments is 15 August 2005. We hope that you will remain part of this process so that we can all realise the objectives of affording our people better health care. Government alone cannot realise these objectives that is why we always emphasise the need for private-public partnerships.
As government we welcome and encourage the efforts aimed at encouraging diversity in ownership and participation within the private health sector. We need to support new entrants into the private health sector market and ensure that new initiatives are not undermined by the few large players currently dominating the market. We have to ensure equity in ownership through viable black economic empowerment (BEE) initiatives, and most importantly we will need to ensure that women become key players as well.
These are some of the issues that the Health Charter will seek to address when it is finalised.
There is a need to broaden access to the private health, which currently consumes about 62% of total health care funds in South Africa while benefiting only 7 million of the 45 million South Africans and is concentrated in urban areas.
The move to improve access particularly to communities in rural, township and poorer provinces is welcomed and will be an integral part of this process.
In conclusion, I must encourage all health practitioners about the need to promote healthy living lifestyles and the importance of prevention and management of diseases.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
6 August 2005
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
