Issued by: SA Communication Service
Dr Abe Nkomo MP, Chairperson of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Health, today released preliminary details of the resolutions taken by the Health Portfolio Committee following two days of hearings on issues affecting the medical and dental professions.
Dr Nkomo stressed that the final Committee reports and recommendations had yet to be compiled, but added:
"The Committee was delighted with the hearings which showed Parliament at its best. Difficult issues were tackled in a rational and considered manner and we hope we have been able to point a way forward. Over 50 oral submissions were made, with many more in writing and I am particularly delighted at the wide range of input - from the Medical Association of South Africa to Khayelitsha Street Committees."
On the proposed regulations to restrict doctors' right to dispense, the Committee called for the urgent establishment of a Working Group, representative of public and private practitioners, Pharmacists, government and patients, to consider two sets of issues:
a) Legal and technical aspe an emphasis on clarity and accucy. b) Policy decisions in need Is the authority to dispense a nessary part of medical practise ih Africa? Is supplementary trainfor dispensing necessary? if so,long, administered by whom? Should the new regime apply to public and private sectors? How shouldqualities be addressed? Is thereonflict between doctors and pharmsts? If so, how can it be resolved? Do the proposals impact unduroposals (in the same regulation,dicines cost-effective and admini
On the Interim Medical aional training proposals, the Cothe importance of distinguishing between vocational training and community service. The Committee commented on the need for more research from the Interim Council to elaborate on:
Specific skill deficiencies in South African medical graduates; Amount of extra training time needed to address these deficiencies; Location of training; Supervision of training and infrastructure requirements; Long term plans to change medical curriculum; Cost of proposals and sources of funding; Payment of trainers (payment of trainees was clarified by the Council); Medical school admission and selection procedures; On-going accreditation and Continuing Medical Education.
The Council was asked to consult fully with all stakeholders and to report back to the Committee.
The Committee's final reports on the two hearings are due to be published within the next month.
For further information: Tom Engel 021 403 3129
18 September 1996