Members of the Community connecting through the 8 community radio stations:
(Radio Teemaneng, Revival FM, Radio Riverside, Kurara FM, Radio Kaboesna, Radio NFM, Ulwazi FM and Vaaltar FM).
Members of the Media present;
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you all to this important briefing on the process of re-commissioning hospital boards and clinic committees in our Province. Firstly, Good governance is embedded as a fundamental tenet of South African health care with the National Health Act No. 61 of 2003 making provision for formally constituted, community-based governance structures at various levels within the healthcare delivery system.
Our National Health Act provides a framework for public accountability through community involvement in health issues, including through hospital boards and clinic communities.In South Africa, governance structures in the form of clinic committees and hospital boards in line with national health policy, are intended to provide expression to the principle of community participation at a local and district level.
These governance structures are meant to act as a link between communities and health services and to provide a platform for the health needs and aspirations of the communities represented at all levels.
Secondly, healthcare delivery mechanism today is changing rapidly and becoming more complex, so as the patterns of diseases and the cost of delivery of healthcare services.
In light of this, the efficient use of available limited resources between competing priorities has become even more important than in previous financial years. In view of this, research evidence is critical to accurately track health status progress, health systems performance, evaluate policy impacts and ensure accountability for performance at all levels.
We deemed it necessary conduct operational research, provide research coordination support and best practice in order to promote evidence-based health services practices, health systems improvements, and costing of the delivery of healthcare services within the province.
It is in this context that we resolved to undertake a comprehensive review of the health service delivery model as part of resetting the health system that we have spoken about. By the end of the financial year, we will be able to present a comprehensive plan. A new culture of service excellence whilst remaining within budget must prevail in support of client needs and service demands. This is part of our increased efforts to strengthen health systems in provision of equitable and accessible health services.
The ideal clinic initiative is rooted in the ethos of primary health care. It is not only about further enhancing access to quality care in our clinics, but it is mostly about fostering closer relations between our clinics and the communities they serve. It also aims to foster relations between government and non-governmental organisations and formations active in those communities, in order to raise the standards of health service delivery
Thirdly, Governance structures are critical part of our organization in terms of dealing with broad issues relating to performance matters.
On the 15th of August, the Department placed an advertisement on print, electronic and social media, encouraging members of society to nominate able and willing participants to serve on the hospital boards and clinic committees in the province. The closing date for submission of nominations was on the 09th September 2022.
Following this process, we were inundated with calls and special request from members of communities declaring their interest and appealing for an opportunity to submit their nominations to serve in hospital boards and clinic committees. We have made some considerations and therefore, I’m pleased to announce that we will re-open the nomination process today, to give communities an opportunity to submit their nominations to serve on the health governance structures in the province. The new closing date will be 17th October 2022.
The Department will appoint over 1200 members from various communities across the Province to serve in health governance structures. These members will represent 223 public health facilities comprising of 130 primary healthcare facilities, 14 hospitals, 33 community healthcare centres and 46 satellites in the Northern Cape.
These members must come from community structures, organised sectors, NGO's and Churches and will represent all of our diverse communities in the areas that are served by the health establishments.
The selection criteria for prospective Board or Committee members are:
• Be a South African citizen aged 18 years or older;
• Be of sound mind and not certifiable as mentally ill (see Mental Health Act); nor have a criminal record, unless a free pardon has been received or a period of three years has expired since release from prison and certified as fully rehabilitated by the Department of Correctional Services;
• Demonstrate commitment to community service and support for the vision, mission and values of the Department of Health; - Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity and honesty.
• The nominees must belong to the sector in which they are nominated (no self-nominations).
• They must have been actively involved in community work and be willing to serve voluntarily and actively on the structure
Furthermore, Individuals nominated will serve for the period of three years. We therefore advice Community members to submit a comprehensive profile and CV of your nominee and include a 1-page motivational letter that promotes the suitability of the concerned member to serve on the structure.
Members of the community are urged to either post or hand-deliver all nominations to the Department of Health District Offices, or directly to their local health facilities.
The induction and re-orientation of all appointed health governance structures will be conducted immediately following their appointments, so as to ensure that they are efficient and fully operational in various districts and communities they serve.
Training will concentrate on building community health activists who are knowledgeable on both substantive (e.g., roles and responsibilities) and procedural issues (e.g., method of election, term of office etc.) related to public health issues such as, - Health promotion; Understanding community needs; Conflict resolution; and Dispute management.
These are of utmost importance to enable us to move as a United force in our endeavor to achieve quality health service delivery. This is the mission that we will never deviate from, which calls for a multi-sectoral approach for the formation of Hospital boards and clinic committees.
Governance Structures reported that facility managers do not share facility status updates reports with them as a way for keeping everyone informed as an oversight support structure to the respective facility.
Hence, health officials, members of Hospital boards and clinic committees all need to work together to ensure that community participation is enhanced; community advocacy in health matters is strengthened; ensure the integration and devolution of health services in the Province, as well as monitor and evaluate service delivery and identified gaps and challenges in the delivery of health services to communities.
Expectations for governance structures to assist in making communities aware that they should first present themselves at community clinics and avoid self-referrals to the hospitals. This intends to decongest hospitals and reduce patients waiting times at our health facilities.
Needless to say, the management of complaints of health service users remains a challenges. Complaints are a useful measure of quality and safety when managed honestly and transparently. We have noted that there is a serious trust deficit between facility management and patients, due to allegations that hospitals and clinics would rather try to hide serious complaints than investigate and respond to those in a positive and open manner.
In conclusion, the challenges and problems we are facing are not insurmountable, but they require a strong and vigilant team. We will enhance effective communication amongst the team, as well as improving collaboration with our clients and the health governance structures. I believe communication is at the heart of developing powerful client relationship. After all heath care is not only about its clients and the people who delivery the services.
Let me also take this opportunity to convey special gratitude to the out-going hospital boards and clinic committee members across the length and breadth of our province, for their dedication and resilience towards health service delivery to communities.
The department takes these structures seriously. With the promulgation of the Provincial Health Bill, we have committed to include the honorarium for some of these committees. At this point in time, our immediate task is to ensure that they are established and functional to serve communities.
I thank you.
