SECTION27 recently provided comments on the National Health Amendment Bill, B24 – 2011, to the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Health. Polity’s Chanel de Bruyn interviewed SECTION27 attorney Umunyana Rugege about the submission. To view the interview or download the submission click “Read more” below.
Find the full submission by clicking “read more” below.
SECTION27 welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the National Health Amendment Bill, 2011 (“Bill”) to the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Health (“Committee”). We are very encouraged by the move by the Department of Health (“Department”) in taking steps to establish a single, accountable and independent Office of Health Standards Compliance (“Office) that has wide and far reaching powers to ensure quality health care services in both the private and public health systems. We consider this to be an important part of the state’s responsibility in terms of section 27 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (“Constitution”) to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to have access to health care services.
SECTION27 welcomes increases in the health care budget, but concerns remain Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered the 2012/13 Budget Speech to Parliament yesterday. Considering the difficult fiscal environment in which the 2012/13-2014/15 was formulated, SECTION27 welcomes the proposed increase to the health budget of R12.3 billion over the next three Continue Reading
On 25 October 2011 the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, tabled the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) at a sitting of the National Assembly. The MTBPS broadly outlines Government’s proposed spending plans for the next three years. It also provides an opportunity for Government to make adjustments to this year’s budget to cater for changes in expenditure and provide for unanticipated expenses.
In 2007, 2009 and 2010 strikes took place in the public health sector which resulted in a serious disruption of health care services. Many users of the public health system were not able to access vital services or collect their medication. Earlier this year SECTION27 was approached by a number of concerned organisations, including Rural Doctors Association of South Africa (RuDASA) and the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) to assist in finding a resolution which recognises the right to strike and also protects patients’ rights and prevents loss of life or serious harm being suffered by patients during a strike.
Yesterday, SECTION27 responded to the “Draft Regulations Relating to the Categorisation of Hospitals” issued by the Minister of Health on 12 August 2011. The regulations aim to comprehensively categorise hospitals; if drafted properly they will improve health care service provision, offer important guidelines to health care providers and enable civil society to hold hospitals and government accountable.
Unfortunately, shortcomings in the draft regulations render them incapable of fulfilling this potential without significant revision.
The submission, sent to the Director-General of Health on 11 October 2011, identifies numerous shortcomings in the draft regulations.
The recently published “i-Base and TAG 2011 Pipeline Report makes clear, medically, the prospect for people with HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and tuberculosis (TB) to live long and healthy lives – and in the cases of HCV and TB, to be cured rapidly with safe, effective, oral combination therapy – have never been better.
SECTION27 welcomes the release of the report on the investigation into the tragic deaths of six infants on 18 May 2010 at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (“the Hospital”) in Johannesburg. The report raises serious concerns about the extent to which the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development (“the Department”) adheres to norms and standards related to human resources, and the consequent overcrowding in public health facilities in the province.
On Monday 31 May Business Day reported that because of the deepening financial crisis facing health services in the provinces the Minister of Health is discussing a “bail-out” of provincial departments of health by the Treasury. Treasury intervention is now vital to prevent the collapse of health services. But equally important is the resolution of the crisis facing financial management systems that led to the massive debt in the first place.
This is the first issue of Rural Health in Focus, which aims to draw systematic attention to the successes and challenges of rural health in order to improve national health outcomes. This issue focuses specifically on rural health financing, efficiency and equity. To fully appreciate the support rural health care needs in order to meet national goals, we invite the President, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health, as well as the other Finance MinMec and Members of the National Health Council to shadow a rural doctor for a full day.