28 July 2002
The Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang held a regular monthly meeting with MECs for Health from all nine provinces (Minmec) in Johannesburg at the weekend (July 25-26). The meeting discussed and took a number of decisions on matters relating to the health sector.
National Health Bill
The meeting discussed and endorsed the National Health Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to give a legal framework for a national health system which encompasses public, private, non-governmental and other providers of health services.
The Bill sets out the rights and duties of health care providers, health workers, establishments and users. The Bill aims to promote progressive realisation of rights of South Africans to health services and to an environment that is not harmful to their well-being. It will also promote the right to basic health care services for children.
The Bill will now be submitted to Cabinet for discussion and approval before it is tabled before Parliament, hopefully, later this year.
Visit to Province
Minmec has taken a decision to visit all the provinces in the country to get first hand experience on the functioning of provincial and local health systems and take measures to address challenges affecting effective provision of health services.
The meeting received a report on the first provincial visit made to the Eastern Cape last month. Minmec made a commitment that both national and provincial departments of health will assist the Eastern Cape in addressing some of the challenges highlighted during the visit.
Specific problematic areas relating to human resources, management capacity and logistical challenges were identified. Minmec noted the short, medium and long-term actions to be taken to address the challenges facing the province. Progress report on the efforts made to address these challenges will be presented to Minmec regularly.
The next provincial visit will be to Mpumalanga on August 8, 2002.
Global Fund and other Donor Funding
Minmec supported the agreement reached between the Minister of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Dr Zweli Mkhize, and other partners with regard to the funding allocations made by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria as contained in a press statement released by KZN Department of Health on July 16.
The meeting affirmed the role of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) as the country coordinating mechanism in relation to the Global Fund.
Minmec mandated the Minister of Health and MEC for Health in KZN to liaise with the Fund with regard to the agreement reached and finalize arrangements on how the money will be received and disbursed.
Minmec decided that, by all means, South Africa should accept donor funds which are made available for strengthening the national health system and for the fight against HIV and AIDS. The conditions attached to these funds must be understood clearly and harmonised with the country's priorities and reporting mechanisms.
Minmec briefly discussed the US$500 million (about R5 billion) made available by the USA to fight AIDS to ten (10) developing countries including South Africa and a further 50 million Euros (about R500 million) made available by the European Union for strengthening the delivery of primary health care in partnership with NGO's and CBO's including HIV and AIDS.
It was decided that South Africa should accept these funds and align them with the country's priorities, institutional frameworks and procurement procedures for goods and services.
Research
Minmec noted with concern the lack of coordination of research especially in the area of HIV and AIDS. The lack of coordination continues to exist in spite of the launching of the Guidelines for Good Practice in the Conduct of Clinical Trials in Human Subjects and the establishment of the Essential National Health Research Committee.
Minmec therefore decided to compile a research database to be coordinated by provincial Departments of Health. Minmec also reiterated government's responsibility to fund and coordinate health research as well as its overall duty to protect the public.
Minmec also reaffirmed government's commitment to work in true partnership with all sectors of the society including NGOs, CBOs, business, academics, etc to improve the health status of all South Africans.
School Health Services
Minmec discussed and, in principle, adopted a school health policy. The policy is aimed at providing appropriate health education and health promotion within schools. The school health services will seek to respond to health needs in schools including nutritional and environmental conditions, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health issues, trauma and violence, substance abuse and other risk behaviours.
Minmec agreed to audit the current school health services and establish financial implications for extending the services to most of the schools that are not serviced.
Issued by the Ministry of Health