New unit to improve health care delivery

The new unit will be responsible for the quality of health care programmes and is expected to be operational before the last quarter of 2007.

"We have created a caring and responsive system that will result in a healthy and productive province," said Health MEC Brian Hlongwa.

The PMU is aimed at fast-tracking a number of key health initiatives in Gauteng including:

· the Healthy Living Campaign, a community-based initiative to promote healthy lifestyles;
· strategically managing the province's facilities including clinics and hospitals and the planning of new facilities;
· quality delivery of health services to meet professional standards and client expectations;
· introducing smart cards and Information Technology solutions to streamline patient care processes at hospitals and clinics; and
· transferring and communicating services such as Emergency Management Services (EMS) and Forensic Pathology that recently became the responsibility of the province.

The new office will be a small unit reporting directly to the Head of Department, Sybil Ngcobo, but with the ability to draw in the skills and knowledge from other managers in the department.

A private sector consortium has also been appointed by the department following a public tender process to assist the department with project management.

There will be a distinct shift, he said in emphasis towards the vigorous promotion of healthy lifestyles as an alternative to a reliance on treatment and medication.

"More than 70% of patients who visit our facilities suffer from ailments that could have been prevented. We have to reach them with correct information and support - before they reach our hospitals," MEC Hlongwa said.

More than 1,000 new community health workers will be appointed in the province to spearhead this campaign.

They will receive thorough training, he said and then deployed within their own communities to provide information and advice on key issues such as nutrition and healthy eating habits, the danger of smoking and substance abuse, the benefits of exercising, safe sexual practices and stress management.

"These are cost-effective programmes designed to help people change their lifestyles. We will see the benefits of these interventions through an improvement in the health status of our people," the MEC said.

The functioning of the unit will also reduce the demand for services at provincial facilities.

The department will also soon introduce a new "smart card" that will streamline processes at hospitals and clinics; shorten queues and reduce waiting times.

These cards will also contain the medical history of the patient to enable doctors and professionals to make quicker diagnoses.

The department will soon put out requests for proposals to run pilot projects at selected facilities and results will be thoroughly evaluated, followed by a public tender process.

The introduction of project management skills principles, he said will lead to a more efficient Health Department.

"It will look at all aspects of budgeting, expenditure and the allocation of resources. One of the short term objectives is to receive a clean audit report from the Auditor General's office in the 2008/2009 financial year," MEC Hlongwa said.

The EMS is also a key component of the province's planning for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

The province recently started the process to take over responsibility for this from local governments.

"We want uniform standards to apply across the province and have proper emergency plans in place that will enable us to deal effectively with any situation that might arise," added Hlongwa.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews