Date: 21/05/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: G Ramokgopa: Opening of the Angiography Unit at Dr George Mukhari Hospital
ADDRESS BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ON THE OPENING OF THE ANGIOGRAPHY UNIT AT DR GEORGE MUKHARI HOSPITAL, Ga-Rankuwa, 21 May 2004
Our hosts
The Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mdzanga and
The Head, Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, Prof Tsatsi
The Members of the Hospital Board, with apology of the Chairman Mr Mongwe
and The Employee Representative Organisations
I also acknowledge the presence of The Regional Chief director for Tshwane-Metsweding, Dr Njongwe
The Representatives from MEDUNSA, Referring clinics and hospitals
The Councillors and other members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
It is for me a joy and a privilege to be among you today as we officially open of this state of the art angiography suite that cost the Gauteng Department of Health and the public at least R11 million. I am please that as we celebrate ten years of democracy we are also able to celebrate an improvement in the availability of latest state of the art technology in our public hospitals.
This unit will certainly improve quality of patient care. It will boost our efforts for motivation, retention and recruitment of highly qualified professional staff to serve in public hospitals so that the quality of care to our people, especially the poor and the vulnerable in society can be better, faster and more effective. This unit will also improve the capacity and prestige of Dr George Mukhari Hospital as a teaching and research platform for undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals.
When this government came into office in 1994, we inherited a health system fraught with many challenges and problems. One of the challenges was that the equipment used had aged and the health infrastructure was in a very poor state.
Since 1999, we have spent R1.2 billion on new and upgraded infrastructural projects. In the same period we spent R698 million on the purchase of latest equipment.
Last year alone for Dr George Mukhari Hospital, we purchased a Stereotactic Machine which makes it possible for neurosurgeons to perform even the finest operations on the brain with increased chances of success and enhanced for optimal recovery of our patients. Three new anaesthetic machines and Cardiac monitors were bought with the cardiac laboratory digitalised. The digitalisation of the cardiac lab has helped to increase efficiency to diagnose and treat more patients.
Currently, Dr George Mukhari Hospital is not a Gauteng Hospital but a National Institution providing Tertiary Health Care Services and a platform for Training and Research for the country. The province mainly funds some primary and largely secondary hospital care services. The investments we have made over the years in this hospital have thus benefited our people from other provinces are, such as the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and even people from other countries, especially on our continent.
The only requirement to access this highly specialised, high tech and high cost care is that people must come here through a referral system. We will be building a district hospital in the Soshanguve area to relieve the hospital of treating minor ailments and to ensure that communities have access to hospital services closer to where they live for these minor ailments.
As we prepare ourselves to deliver on the mandate of the third term of democracy, we are well positioned through the contract with our people, to celebrate the next decade with an even better health care systems that is world-renowned.
At the risk of not mentioning all, some of the Centres of Excellence here in Dr George Mukhari hospital include the Ophthalmology department, the Burns Unit, the Hand Surgery Unit, The Neorosurgery Unit, and others.
The department of Pediatrics and Child Health is the only South African institution selected by the International Nutrition Foundation-Ellison Medical Foundation to participate in their programme to strengthen research on health issues related to nutrition and infection.
The head of the hospital's nuclear medicine department, Prof Scathing has become the first Black South African to be appointed advisor for the World Federation on Nuclear Medicine.
Together with its sister institution, MEDUNSA, this hospital has made a significant contribution in redressing the racial and gender imbalances inherited from Apartheid era in the medical fraternity. Amongst these the first African women to become Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and General Surgeon respectively in South Africa were trained here.
For these achievements, and for keeping the lamp of hope for our people and our country shining, I want to thank our staff, the consultants, professional and support staff. I also acknowledge the role that management play with the support of our strategic partners in MEDUNSA, the Private Sector and in the community.
These achievements give us confidence that this angiography unit will be in good and capable hands for the benefit of all, even the poorest of the poor.
I want to conclude by asking that we all work together to ensure that this hospital become known not by controversy, disputes and complaints but by the excellent work all of us are doing. Many of us have very fond memories of how this hospital shaped our consciousness and focus on building a just, democratic and prosperous society.
Let the leadership of all stakeholders in this hospital work together to ensure that communities we serve know you by the caring ethos and excellence of your services. Let the people who work here, especially those in the frontline services, feel cared for in a way that a caring ethos becomes culture of the institution and a way of life.
As we are gathered here today the President is delivering the state of the nation address at the joint sitting of the National Assembly and of the National Council of Provinces. Let us all take interest in the commitments, programs and processes for participation and partnerships that government is making. Let us work together to debate and utilise the democratic processes that are in place to contribute to these commitments and to strengthen partnerships. Let us all however remember that we are entrusted with the responsibility to look after the resources of the public in our care and look after the members of our communities when they come here. Yes we should provide high quality care but yes we should also treat them with respect and dignity.
I wish to express regret at the delays of appointing a CEO and promise that the process will be concluded by the end of this month. I thank Dr Modzanga for holding the fort in the interim period.
I further invite you to make inputs as we develop a five-year strategic plan for the department that responds to the mandate of this third term of our democratic dispensation. I have no doubt that all of us will spare no effort in making sure that we work together to improve dialogue and strengthen partnerships that will ensure that we achieve the goal of Health for a better life for all our people.
For more information contact:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department Of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
21 May 2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: G Ramokgopa: Opening of the Angiography Unit at Dr George Mukhari Hospital
ADDRESS BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ON THE OPENING OF THE ANGIOGRAPHY UNIT AT DR GEORGE MUKHARI HOSPITAL, Ga-Rankuwa, 21 May 2004
Our hosts
The Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mdzanga and
The Head, Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, Prof Tsatsi
The Members of the Hospital Board, with apology of the Chairman Mr Mongwe
and The Employee Representative Organisations
I also acknowledge the presence of The Regional Chief director for Tshwane-Metsweding, Dr Njongwe
The Representatives from MEDUNSA, Referring clinics and hospitals
The Councillors and other members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
It is for me a joy and a privilege to be among you today as we officially open of this state of the art angiography suite that cost the Gauteng Department of Health and the public at least R11 million. I am please that as we celebrate ten years of democracy we are also able to celebrate an improvement in the availability of latest state of the art technology in our public hospitals.
This unit will certainly improve quality of patient care. It will boost our efforts for motivation, retention and recruitment of highly qualified professional staff to serve in public hospitals so that the quality of care to our people, especially the poor and the vulnerable in society can be better, faster and more effective. This unit will also improve the capacity and prestige of Dr George Mukhari Hospital as a teaching and research platform for undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals.
When this government came into office in 1994, we inherited a health system fraught with many challenges and problems. One of the challenges was that the equipment used had aged and the health infrastructure was in a very poor state.
Since 1999, we have spent R1.2 billion on new and upgraded infrastructural projects. In the same period we spent R698 million on the purchase of latest equipment.
Last year alone for Dr George Mukhari Hospital, we purchased a Stereotactic Machine which makes it possible for neurosurgeons to perform even the finest operations on the brain with increased chances of success and enhanced for optimal recovery of our patients. Three new anaesthetic machines and Cardiac monitors were bought with the cardiac laboratory digitalised. The digitalisation of the cardiac lab has helped to increase efficiency to diagnose and treat more patients.
Currently, Dr George Mukhari Hospital is not a Gauteng Hospital but a National Institution providing Tertiary Health Care Services and a platform for Training and Research for the country. The province mainly funds some primary and largely secondary hospital care services. The investments we have made over the years in this hospital have thus benefited our people from other provinces are, such as the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and even people from other countries, especially on our continent.
The only requirement to access this highly specialised, high tech and high cost care is that people must come here through a referral system. We will be building a district hospital in the Soshanguve area to relieve the hospital of treating minor ailments and to ensure that communities have access to hospital services closer to where they live for these minor ailments.
As we prepare ourselves to deliver on the mandate of the third term of democracy, we are well positioned through the contract with our people, to celebrate the next decade with an even better health care systems that is world-renowned.
At the risk of not mentioning all, some of the Centres of Excellence here in Dr George Mukhari hospital include the Ophthalmology department, the Burns Unit, the Hand Surgery Unit, The Neorosurgery Unit, and others.
The department of Pediatrics and Child Health is the only South African institution selected by the International Nutrition Foundation-Ellison Medical Foundation to participate in their programme to strengthen research on health issues related to nutrition and infection.
The head of the hospital's nuclear medicine department, Prof Scathing has become the first Black South African to be appointed advisor for the World Federation on Nuclear Medicine.
Together with its sister institution, MEDUNSA, this hospital has made a significant contribution in redressing the racial and gender imbalances inherited from Apartheid era in the medical fraternity. Amongst these the first African women to become Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and General Surgeon respectively in South Africa were trained here.
For these achievements, and for keeping the lamp of hope for our people and our country shining, I want to thank our staff, the consultants, professional and support staff. I also acknowledge the role that management play with the support of our strategic partners in MEDUNSA, the Private Sector and in the community.
These achievements give us confidence that this angiography unit will be in good and capable hands for the benefit of all, even the poorest of the poor.
I want to conclude by asking that we all work together to ensure that this hospital become known not by controversy, disputes and complaints but by the excellent work all of us are doing. Many of us have very fond memories of how this hospital shaped our consciousness and focus on building a just, democratic and prosperous society.
Let the leadership of all stakeholders in this hospital work together to ensure that communities we serve know you by the caring ethos and excellence of your services. Let the people who work here, especially those in the frontline services, feel cared for in a way that a caring ethos becomes culture of the institution and a way of life.
As we are gathered here today the President is delivering the state of the nation address at the joint sitting of the National Assembly and of the National Council of Provinces. Let us all take interest in the commitments, programs and processes for participation and partnerships that government is making. Let us work together to debate and utilise the democratic processes that are in place to contribute to these commitments and to strengthen partnerships. Let us all however remember that we are entrusted with the responsibility to look after the resources of the public in our care and look after the members of our communities when they come here. Yes we should provide high quality care but yes we should also treat them with respect and dignity.
I wish to express regret at the delays of appointing a CEO and promise that the process will be concluded by the end of this month. I thank Dr Modzanga for holding the fort in the interim period.
I further invite you to make inputs as we develop a five-year strategic plan for the department that responds to the mandate of this third term of our democratic dispensation. I have no doubt that all of us will spare no effort in making sure that we work together to improve dialogue and strengthen partnerships that will ensure that we achieve the goal of Health for a better life for all our people.
For more information contact:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department Of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
21 May 2004
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