Issued by Office of the Premier Gauteng Provincial Government
6 March 2001
Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has appointed Dr Laetitia Rispel as head of the Gauteng Department of Health. She has been in the Department of Health since September 1996, working in various capacities. From September 1996 until March 1999, she was the Chief Director for Strategic management.
In April 1999, she took over the difficult tasks of transforming hospital services in Gauteng, until August 2000, when she was appointed Chief of Operations.
Rispel, 41, has a doctor of Philosophy degree, which focuses on the concept of norms and standards, with a special emphasis on primary health care. She also has a Master's degree in community health, an honours degree in epidemiology and statistics, formal qualifications in information technology and management for government as well as extensive research experience.
Dr Rispel's achievements include the initiation of the computerised health information system at a number of health care institutions in Gauteng, the initiation of the Khanyisa Service Excellence awards, setting up a formal approach to planning in hospitals, cost containment and aligning services with available resources, improved communication and liaison with hospitals, and the initiation of the service improvement fund which begins to put in practice the goal of shifting resources towards the periphery.
Her work in policy development spans almost ten years. She has experience as a health worker in hospital (intensive care, paediatric and general ward management) and community settings in the Western Cape.
Her involvement in progressive, anti-apartheid organisations in the health sector has added to broader insights and strengthened her strong commitment to transformation and equity.
Dr Rispel recognizes the challenges of managing a Department with a budget of more than R6 billion and a staff complement of more than 40 000 people in the face of numerous health and care challenges. Her experience combines both generic management skills of facilitation and mentoring, communication and diversity management as well as technical skills in information technology and project management skills.
Dr Rispel brings gender-sensitivity; an ability to work with community-based organisations and various role players; an ability to apply principles of participation and consultation to different areas of work; efficiency, enthusiasm and hard work to the job.
For inquiries contact Thabo Masebe at 082 410 8087 or Popo Maja at 082 373 1169