Date: 18/02/05
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabala-Msimang: Parliamentary Media Briefing
Media Briefing Session: Health and Social Fabric by Minister of Health Manton Tshabalala-Msimang
18 February 2005
During the State of the Nation Address, the President reported on the progress made in implementing government programme last year and outlined the programme of action for government for this year.
This presentation will therefore cover both the progress report in terms of health sector activities as outline in last year's State of the Nation Address and we will seek to elaborate on the priorities for this sector as outlined by the President in this year's State of the Nation Address.
Our health interventions continue to be directed by the vision for health care as envisaged in the Freedom Charter. We have a responsibility to improve the quality of health care in line with the Batho Pele principles and the Patient's Rights Charter.
We will continue our strides in the provision of free health care services for children under six, pregnant women and people with disabilities and pay special attention to other vulnerable sections of our society including the children in need of care and the aged.
As you will recall that, the President announced that government would provide free health services for people with disabilities. We have made progress in reaching consensus on the definition of disability. The Department of Health made a commitment to eradicate the backlog in terms of provision of assistive devices for people with disabilities. In this regard, we distributed a total of 4770 wheelchairs and 4674 hearing aids during the last financial year. In the current financial year, we are spending about R17 million to eliminate the backlog.
Maternal and Child Health
In line will addressing the needs of women and children, this year we will be focusing more on issues around maternal and child health this year as we build towards the World Health Day with a theme: Make Every Mother and Child Count. The indications are that there is improvement in addressing the challenge of maternal mortality rate and we will be able to release more information as part of the outcomes of the Demographic and Health Survey.
Of critical importance to child health is the need to ensure that all our children are protected from immunisation-preventable diseases. The recent challenges posed by measles require that we intensify the implementation of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). The success of this programme is even more critical this year as we seek to be declared Polio free by the end of 2005.
We will also improve the implementation of our school health policy to promote health and healthy environment amongst young people and ensure that health challenges facing learners are addressed proactively.
Developing the National Health System National Health Act
We are working with the Presidency to ensure the promulgation of the National Health Act. The Department is already developing the regulations that should bring into effect certain sections of this Act once promulgated. The National Health Act should bring about a single health system for the country that is characterised by a respect for the rights and responsibilities of patients and health providers. The Act provides a legislative framework for proper organisation of health services from a local facility up to the national level where health policy is formulated. It encourages community and stakeholder participation at all levels of the health system. We will regularly brief the media on the implementation of this Act as it unfolds after its promulgation. Human resources
The capacity of the public service to deliver on the government's mandate has been a subject of an extensive debate since the State of the Nation Address. There are a number of programmes we have already put in place to address issues of capacity
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabala-Msimang: Parliamentary Media Briefing
Media Briefing Session: Health and Social Fabric by Minister of Health Manton Tshabalala-Msimang
18 February 2005
During the State of the Nation Address, the President reported on the progress made in implementing government programme last year and outlined the programme of action for government for this year.
This presentation will therefore cover both the progress report in terms of health sector activities as outline in last year's State of the Nation Address and we will seek to elaborate on the priorities for this sector as outlined by the President in this year's State of the Nation Address.
Our health interventions continue to be directed by the vision for health care as envisaged in the Freedom Charter. We have a responsibility to improve the quality of health care in line with the Batho Pele principles and the Patient's Rights Charter.
We will continue our strides in the provision of free health care services for children under six, pregnant women and people with disabilities and pay special attention to other vulnerable sections of our society including the children in need of care and the aged.
As you will recall that, the President announced that government would provide free health services for people with disabilities. We have made progress in reaching consensus on the definition of disability. The Department of Health made a commitment to eradicate the backlog in terms of provision of assistive devices for people with disabilities. In this regard, we distributed a total of 4770 wheelchairs and 4674 hearing aids during the last financial year. In the current financial year, we are spending about R17 million to eliminate the backlog.
Maternal and Child Health
In line will addressing the needs of women and children, this year we will be focusing more on issues around maternal and child health this year as we build towards the World Health Day with a theme: Make Every Mother and Child Count. The indications are that there is improvement in addressing the challenge of maternal mortality rate and we will be able to release more information as part of the outcomes of the Demographic and Health Survey.
Of critical importance to child health is the need to ensure that all our children are protected from immunisation-preventable diseases. The recent challenges posed by measles require that we intensify the implementation of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). The success of this programme is even more critical this year as we seek to be declared Polio free by the end of 2005.
We will also improve the implementation of our school health policy to promote health and healthy environment amongst young people and ensure that health challenges facing learners are addressed proactively.
Developing the National Health System National Health Act
We are working with the Presidency to ensure the promulgation of the National Health Act. The Department is already developing the regulations that should bring into effect certain sections of this Act once promulgated. The National Health Act should bring about a single health system for the country that is characterised by a respect for the rights and responsibilities of patients and health providers. The Act provides a legislative framework for proper organisation of health services from a local facility up to the national level where health policy is formulated. It encourages community and stakeholder participation at all levels of the health system. We will regularly brief the media on the implementation of this Act as it unfolds after its promulgation. Human resources
The capacity of the public service to deliver on the government's mandate has been a subject of an extensive debate since the State of the Nation Address. There are a number of programmes we have already put in place to address issues of capacity
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