Date: 03/09/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: GM Ramakgopa: Speech on the occasion of the tabling of Health Department's Annual Report 2003/2004
The speech by the Gauteng MEC for Health Dr GM Ramokgopa on the occasion of the tabling of Health Department's Annual Report 2003/2004 at the Legislature
I am pleased, Mr Speaker, on behalf of my Department, to table the Annual Report for the period 2003/2004 as a fulfilment of one of the principles of our democracy - accountability.
Accountability is one of three priorities on which our government will focus on in this third term of office. We must never lose sight, Mr Speaker, of the fact that government is the servant of the people, not its master.
Citizens are more than "customers" or "clients."
The entire public sector belongs to them.
And accountability means setting expectations against which we can all be measured. And that will be manifested in transparency and openness with the public. Citizens are entitled to transparency in the operation of public institutions, including openness about how they spend, and reporting on their performance and results. We are presenting to this house a report which reflects on the progress we have made at the dusk of the second term of our democratic government, which marks the celebration of 10 years of democracy in our country.
Mr Speaker, the 2003/4 financial year has been challenging, while at the same time many independent voices have confirmed that we are making progress and are on the right track.
The Health-e news organisation, in its review of health services around the country noted that the province is not just a financial hub, but people flock to gain access to what they perceive as better health-care.
We were particularly gratified in the year under review by the results of the Community Social Audit undertaken as part of our quality assurance programme. The survey showed that 95% of Gauteng residents have access to our services and 82% of people who used our services in the past year were satisfied with these services. The survey also identified those sites which our clients felt offered the best service and assisted us in designing a Best Practice Campaign to ensure that every health care institution becomes a "best practice" site.
Of note was the continued expansion of condom supply which ensured the continuous supply of 8 million male and 25 000 female condoms per month.
Gauteng youth surveys record condom use of around 70%, which bodes well for our prevention campaigns.
The high levels of excellence for which our tertiary institutions are justifiably world-renowned, have not been neglected. A new Angio Suite has been installed at the Dr George Mukhari Hospital. We are also extremely proud to report the opening of the Dr Dumisane Mzamane African Institute of Kidney Diseases at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the first centre of its kind dedicated to the treatment of kidney diseases.
The backlog for surgical operations was reduced by 13%, exceeding our target by 3% for the financial year.
Our staff did us proud with the number of awards received. Our winner of the Cecilia Makiwane award, Mirriam Modiakgotla, also became the national winner. The Health Department won three out of six awards at the Premier's Service Excellence awards, including sharing the gold and platinum awards with DACEL.
The HOD won the Shoprite/ Checkers/ SABC 2 women of the year award in the health category. The award demonstrates that women in government are making a difference and can indeed compete with women elsewhere for recognition and the type of accolades that are accompanied by the award.
It is clear from the report Mr. Speaker, that our government has been steadfast in its commitment to a healthcare system that puts patients first.
We have made sure that all people have access to quality healthcare, where and when they need it. We have succeeded in deracialising the public health service.
The achievements made in improving the health status of people are the result of working together with sister departments and national and local government. This approach has enabled us to tackle major challenges resulting from decades of oppression, as well as those arising from social transition and rapid urbanisation. Some of the challenges that the Department will continue to address include the Tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS epidemics, illness of poverty, high levels of trauma and violence as well as high levels of abuse of women and children.
Further strides were made in the year under review to improve the health of children, with immunisation coverage for children less than one year of age increasing into 79%, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Programme strengthened in all districts and the sites offering the comprehensive Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programme increasing to 117. The preparations that enabled the department to start the comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care programme on the first day of the current financial year, and the 100% increase in sites offering Voluntary Counselling and Testing, are examples of the efforts made towards turning the tide against the epidemic. Awareness of HIV appears to be high among Gauteng youth. 91% of youth - the highest percentage in the country - are aware of prevention programmes, according to the National HIV and Sexual Behaviour Survey conducted among 15 to 24 year olds last year.
In order to achieve our vision of Health for A Better Life for All, we made strong commitments to improve the quality of care and caring ethos in our services. The accreditation programme and the facility - based quality monitoring teams enabled the Department to put in place enhanced systems and to be more responsive to the needs of patients. Complaints procedures were strengthened in hospitals and clinics as part of the Patients Rights Charter and Services Pledge programmes. There is a need to build on this progress by implementing a performance management system more effectively and developing a more effective early warning monitoring system for institutions. There is also a need to find more innovative ways to recruit and retain specialised and scarce skills within the public health system and to redress infrastructure backlogs.
As we begin the third term of our democratic dispensation we will build on the progress made and are confident that, working together with our people, the challenges that remain can be dealt with. Whilst visits to Primary Health Care facilities grew to 12, 5 million in the year of the report, greater focus will be placed on the current term on extending the hours of services in all the sub districts of the province. Greater attention will also be given to the prevention of ill health, the effective management of chronic diseases, turning the tide against TB, HIV and AIDS, and strengthening the quality assurance programme.
In submitting this report, it remains for me to express my sincere gratitude to the Premier and National Minister of Health for their leadership, to my colleagues in the Executive, MinMEC and Provincial health Authority for their support, as well as to the head of department, all members of staff and all our partners for their efforts in strengthening health care programmes in all districts.
Mr Speaker, it's clear that there are several challenges that lie ahead of us as we strive to ensure the provision of excellent health care for those that need it. And meeting these challenges will not be easy. The Audit Report points out areas and programmes that need our focus with regard to efficiency and effective utilisation of resources, therefore indicating the major challenges we are yet to overcome.
The Department will not be complacent. We will not be content with the status quo. It is clear that, in order for our health care system to be sustainable and excellent, we will need innovation, new thinking, and accountability to get this job done. We need to lay out a vision and a plan that will improve the quality of our health care system and ensure that we have successfully built a health system to serve the generations of this new century. I am pleased to announce that my Department and I have completed a Plan that is going to give direction to our health care system for the next five years and beyond.
Mr Speaker, I would like to sincerely congratulate the Department for obtaining an unqualified audit report on the Medical Supplies Depot Trading Account for the year ending 31 March 2004.
In conclusion Mr Speaker, I would like to announce and sincerely congratulate the management of Johannesburg Hospital for being voted the best hospital by the Star Newspaper readers. This came as no surprise to us because we have always known that Johannesburg hospital is one of our centres of excellence, far ahead of many private health care providers.
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: GM Ramakgopa: Speech on the occasion of the tabling of Health Department's Annual Report 2003/2004
The speech by the Gauteng MEC for Health Dr GM Ramokgopa on the occasion of the tabling of Health Department's Annual Report 2003/2004 at the Legislature
I am pleased, Mr Speaker, on behalf of my Department, to table the Annual Report for the period 2003/2004 as a fulfilment of one of the principles of our democracy - accountability.
Accountability is one of three priorities on which our government will focus on in this third term of office. We must never lose sight, Mr Speaker, of the fact that government is the servant of the people, not its master.
Citizens are more than "customers" or "clients."
The entire public sector belongs to them.
And accountability means setting expectations against which we can all be measured. And that will be manifested in transparency and openness with the public. Citizens are entitled to transparency in the operation of public institutions, including openness about how they spend, and reporting on their performance and results. We are presenting to this house a report which reflects on the progress we have made at the dusk of the second term of our democratic government, which marks the celebration of 10 years of democracy in our country.
Mr Speaker, the 2003/4 financial year has been challenging, while at the same time many independent voices have confirmed that we are making progress and are on the right track.
The Health-e news organisation, in its review of health services around the country noted that the province is not just a financial hub, but people flock to gain access to what they perceive as better health-care.
We were particularly gratified in the year under review by the results of the Community Social Audit undertaken as part of our quality assurance programme. The survey showed that 95% of Gauteng residents have access to our services and 82% of people who used our services in the past year were satisfied with these services. The survey also identified those sites which our clients felt offered the best service and assisted us in designing a Best Practice Campaign to ensure that every health care institution becomes a "best practice" site.
Of note was the continued expansion of condom supply which ensured the continuous supply of 8 million male and 25 000 female condoms per month.
Gauteng youth surveys record condom use of around 70%, which bodes well for our prevention campaigns.
The high levels of excellence for which our tertiary institutions are justifiably world-renowned, have not been neglected. A new Angio Suite has been installed at the Dr George Mukhari Hospital. We are also extremely proud to report the opening of the Dr Dumisane Mzamane African Institute of Kidney Diseases at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the first centre of its kind dedicated to the treatment of kidney diseases.
The backlog for surgical operations was reduced by 13%, exceeding our target by 3% for the financial year.
Our staff did us proud with the number of awards received. Our winner of the Cecilia Makiwane award, Mirriam Modiakgotla, also became the national winner. The Health Department won three out of six awards at the Premier's Service Excellence awards, including sharing the gold and platinum awards with DACEL.
The HOD won the Shoprite/ Checkers/ SABC 2 women of the year award in the health category. The award demonstrates that women in government are making a difference and can indeed compete with women elsewhere for recognition and the type of accolades that are accompanied by the award.
It is clear from the report Mr. Speaker, that our government has been steadfast in its commitment to a healthcare system that puts patients first.
We have made sure that all people have access to quality healthcare, where and when they need it. We have succeeded in deracialising the public health service.
The achievements made in improving the health status of people are the result of working together with sister departments and national and local government. This approach has enabled us to tackle major challenges resulting from decades of oppression, as well as those arising from social transition and rapid urbanisation. Some of the challenges that the Department will continue to address include the Tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS epidemics, illness of poverty, high levels of trauma and violence as well as high levels of abuse of women and children.
Further strides were made in the year under review to improve the health of children, with immunisation coverage for children less than one year of age increasing into 79%, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Programme strengthened in all districts and the sites offering the comprehensive Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programme increasing to 117. The preparations that enabled the department to start the comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care programme on the first day of the current financial year, and the 100% increase in sites offering Voluntary Counselling and Testing, are examples of the efforts made towards turning the tide against the epidemic. Awareness of HIV appears to be high among Gauteng youth. 91% of youth - the highest percentage in the country - are aware of prevention programmes, according to the National HIV and Sexual Behaviour Survey conducted among 15 to 24 year olds last year.
In order to achieve our vision of Health for A Better Life for All, we made strong commitments to improve the quality of care and caring ethos in our services. The accreditation programme and the facility - based quality monitoring teams enabled the Department to put in place enhanced systems and to be more responsive to the needs of patients. Complaints procedures were strengthened in hospitals and clinics as part of the Patients Rights Charter and Services Pledge programmes. There is a need to build on this progress by implementing a performance management system more effectively and developing a more effective early warning monitoring system for institutions. There is also a need to find more innovative ways to recruit and retain specialised and scarce skills within the public health system and to redress infrastructure backlogs.
As we begin the third term of our democratic dispensation we will build on the progress made and are confident that, working together with our people, the challenges that remain can be dealt with. Whilst visits to Primary Health Care facilities grew to 12, 5 million in the year of the report, greater focus will be placed on the current term on extending the hours of services in all the sub districts of the province. Greater attention will also be given to the prevention of ill health, the effective management of chronic diseases, turning the tide against TB, HIV and AIDS, and strengthening the quality assurance programme.
In submitting this report, it remains for me to express my sincere gratitude to the Premier and National Minister of Health for their leadership, to my colleagues in the Executive, MinMEC and Provincial health Authority for their support, as well as to the head of department, all members of staff and all our partners for their efforts in strengthening health care programmes in all districts.
Mr Speaker, it's clear that there are several challenges that lie ahead of us as we strive to ensure the provision of excellent health care for those that need it. And meeting these challenges will not be easy. The Audit Report points out areas and programmes that need our focus with regard to efficiency and effective utilisation of resources, therefore indicating the major challenges we are yet to overcome.
The Department will not be complacent. We will not be content with the status quo. It is clear that, in order for our health care system to be sustainable and excellent, we will need innovation, new thinking, and accountability to get this job done. We need to lay out a vision and a plan that will improve the quality of our health care system and ensure that we have successfully built a health system to serve the generations of this new century. I am pleased to announce that my Department and I have completed a Plan that is going to give direction to our health care system for the next five years and beyond.
Mr Speaker, I would like to sincerely congratulate the Department for obtaining an unqualified audit report on the Medical Supplies Depot Trading Account for the year ending 31 March 2004.
In conclusion Mr Speaker, I would like to announce and sincerely congratulate the management of Johannesburg Hospital for being voted the best hospital by the Star Newspaper readers. This came as no surprise to us because we have always known that Johannesburg hospital is one of our centres of excellence, far ahead of many private health care providers.
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