Paying tribute to Gauteng’s health care workers
Gauteng Premier David Makhura paid tribute to health care professionals in both the public and private sectors for what he called their “outstanding service to the people of our province during the most difficult time in the life of our democratic nation” at the recent State of the Province Address.
Their combined efforts, he added, have seen 5.3 million people in Gauteng vaccinated against Covid-19 with more than 8.6 million vaccines administered in the province.
He also revealed that a total of 32 hospitals in the province were re-purposed to address the predicted shortfall in hospital beds during the pandemic. Makhura reported that in total the province was able to provide 4 256 functional hospital beds. Of this figure, 1 600 will provide permanent additional capacity.
In response to the growing need for mental health facilities, 7% of the available 3 196 district hospital beds have been available for mentally ill patients, he said. Gauteng boasts the largest public health system of all of SA’s provinces, and boasts one of the largest HIV treatment programmes in the country.
Its health care facilities, however, were put under enormous stress at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic which were exacerbated by a number of allegations of fraud and corruption concerning the Gauteng Department of Health. Makhura has committed to putting appropriate leadership in place at the province’s health facilities and investing in good governance.
To date, 33 of the 37 posts for CEOs at Gauteng’s public hospitals have been filled. He reported that 44.6% of senior management positions are now occupied by women. Government’s Ideal Clinic Programme is aimed at systematically improving the quality of care provided in primary health care facilities.
An ideal clinic is defined as one with good infrastructure; adequate staff, medicine and
supplies; good administrative processes; and sufficient bulk supplies. It is required to use applicable clinical policies, protocols and guidelines, and harnesses partner and stakeholder support. In addition, its facilities are open on time, are safe and patient-friendly.
Makhura reported that 334 clinics in Gauteng achieved ideal status between April and December 2021, representing 91% of the target.The province’s public health system enrolled 1.3 million new patients on the Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme in the past year.
The programme allows people on chronic medicines to collect their prescriptions from convenient pick-up points closer to their homes rather than queue at clinics. Pick-up points include participating private pharmacies.
The premier reported that the maternal mortality rate has been reduced to 84 per 100 000 live births, while the neonatal death rate has been reduced to 11 per 1 000 live births. The province aims to establish 11 new primary health centres in the next two years. Resolving complaints more efficiently has also been a focus. The premier reported that 95% of complaints received in the public health care sector were resolved within 25 working days.