Issued by: Ministry of Health
Health Minister, Dr Nkosazana Zuma, has congratulated Prof William Makgoba on his appointment as the new President of the Medical Research Council.
His appointment, which was announced by the new Chairperson of the MRC Board, Prof Vlarion Jacobs, takes effect from 1 January 1999.
Dr Zuma also commended the out-going President of the MRC, Dr Walter Prozesky, under whose leadership the work of the MRC had been harmonised and brought in line with the present realities of South Africa.
The Minister also, on behalf of government, wished Dr Prozesky well in his retirement.
Contact: Vincent Hlongwane 082 557 0978
NOTES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 6 AUGUST 1998 - CAPE TOWN
PROJECTS IN PROGRESS
HIV/AIDS
Government has taken the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS with the formation of the inter-Ministerial Committee on HIV/AIDS chaired by the Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.
All Government departments are collaborating their efforts in partnership with business, the trade union movement, the churches, NGO's and CBO's and other social and political formations in developing sustainable strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The District Health System
We have adopted the district health system as a way of decentralising the delivery of primary healthcare services, throughout the country to effect equity not only between provinces but also within provinces.
At present 49 health regions and 180 health districts have been demarcated nationally. Given our desire to link health service delivery to effective local governance, the health district boundaries have been made coterminous with local Government boundaries. They will change as local government boundaries are revised by the Demarcation Board.
Flying Doctor Programme
As a way of increasing access to health services for all South African's, particularly rural communities. The Flying Doctor Programme which has been successfully piloted in the Northern Province will be extended to KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department in conjunction with the Red Cross Society, will on Friday, 7 August 1998 launch this programme at Manguzi Hospital, outside Jozini, Northern Kwazulu-Natal.
Telemedicine system
The objective of this system would be to deliver health care, tele-education and telecare services at a distance to South Africans in areas where the need is greatest.
It will be used to establish an amalgamation of South African Medical Schools for the purposes of providing cost-effective medical education of health care providers throughout the country.
The system will also facilitate recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural communities.
The major deliverables of our telemedicine system will be divided into four parts:
(a) Clinical services to remote rural communities.
(b) Medical research, education and training of South African healthcare providers.
(c) Improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the delivery of healthcare services.
(d) Delivery of education and other social services to all South Africans, particularly rural communities.
Cervical Cancer
The Department is supporting a pilot project in Khayalitsha jointly with UCT research unit in additional screening methods for cervical cancer.
Policy guidelines are being developed and provinces handle referrals of persons being screened by the Cancer Association.
LEGISLATION FOR 1998
1. Sterilisation Bill
- Aimed at re-affirming the right of all South Africans regarding their reproductive rights.
- Mechanisms for effecting sterilisation on people with disabilities.
2. Medicines Regulatory Authority Bill
- Aims to establish a new body to regulate medicines and medical devices.
- Registration of medicines with particular emphasis on efficacy and quality standards.
- Establishment of good manufacturing practice.
- Bringing in methods of regulating complimentary medicines.
3. Medical Schemes Amendment Bill
- Expand access by reinforcing community rating and social solidarity within medical schemes.
- Ensure adequate benefits and prevent dumping onto public hospitals by requiring that schemes provide a prescribed minimum package of benefits.
- Effect appropriate demarcation between medical schemes and other insurance products.
4. Tobacco Products Control Bill
- Aims to protect children against being bombarded with messages that glamourise smoking.
- To affirm the rights of non-smokers and protect them against being forced to inhale secondary smoke.
- To fulfil government's constitutional obligation of providing an environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle for all South Africans
- To disassociate smoking and sport.