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In readiness for the implementation of universal health coverage of the National Health Insurance (NHI), the National Department of Health (NDOH) and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda NHI District orientated Private Medical General Practitioners “GPs” to provide quality health services at public health facilities.

The workshop was held at the Protea Hotel in Klerksdorp on Saturday, 21 June 2014 for Health Professionals who have already joined the public service, Primary Healthcare Centres on a sessional basis and was also open to those GPs who are thinking of joining.

The intervention by private GPs will provide an expanded range of promotive, preventative, rehabilitative and curative services offered by Public Health facilities in Primary Healthcare Centres (Clinics). This strengthening of services will be achieved through team work between the GPs and the staff of the Department of Health.

Once contracted by the National Department of Health the teamwork between the department and the private GPs will help strengthen service delivery in the public sector by reducing numbers of referrals/ self referrals to Hospitals , improving and integrating management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), improving management of HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis, increase number of minor surgeries in PHC clinics, strengthen community based activities and improving overall PHC clinical staff performance and morale. These interventions will help solve serious problems in public health facilities, which include long waiting times, misdiagnosis of patients and under utilisation of medical equipment in clinics.

The GPs will help the department to reach its NHI objectives of improving the quality and care at Public Facilities, reducing the cost of health care, increasing access to medical professionals and introducing support information technology systems. The re-engineering of Primary Healthcare Centres will be achieved by strengthening Ward Based Outreach Teams, School Health Programme Teams, District Clinical Specialists Teams, contracting private health professionals to the public health system and revitalising Hospitals.

Once contracted private GPs will be tasked with providing promotive, palliative, curative and preventative services as per PHC package, given the burden of disease of the community being served. They will also use clinical algorithms, give in service training and support to other PHC health professionals and workers employed in the health facility.

The provincial NHI project manager, Dr Uma Nagpal said “if there is teamwork we will definitely achieve our goals. “In carrying out these duties the GP’s will need to comply with clinical governance requirements, such as appropriate record keeping and referral and they will be expected to attend training and orientation (especially as it relates to new guidelines),” concluded Dr Uma Nagpal.

One of the Doctors who attended the GPs Orientation Programme, Dr Shailendra Lala who is contracted to work at Stillfontein Clinic had this to say about the induction “The workshop was very helpful and insightful. We learnt how to use the CPI manual and found out what the document requires from us. We were also introduced to the protocols of patient management,” exclaimed Dr Lala.

The contracting of GPs is now at an early stage. The Contracting National Technical Task Team (NTTT) is responsible for spearheading the recruitment of GP’s. Contracts and Service Level Agreements have been drawn up and are being proposed to private GPs.

After signing the agreements the GPs will enjoy the support of the PHC – HP Support Programme. The programme consists of induction sessions, District specific training programmes, GP/HP special interest sessions and mentoring and support.

This will be an ongoing process.