Question NO89 to the Minister of Health

Reply:

The Health Compact recommendations were summarised into nine pillars relating to the key elements of the healthcare system:- human resources, medicine supply, infrastructure, private sector engagement, improvement in the quality of PHC services, public sector financial management, strengthening of governance and leadership, community engagement and development of information systems.

For each of these areas there are clear deliverables with targets which has been reflected in the Departments Annual Performance Plans either at National or Provincial level. The Department has started with the implementation of these plans.

A number of these areas are outlined below including:

• A joint committee of the National Treasury and National Department of Health has been established to review the Equitable share and grants in the Health sector

• A Ministerial Committee Task Team was established and the Human Resource for Health (HRH) Strategy is being finalized, which incorporates a number of human resources issues raised in the compact. Reorganisation of the Health Organogram and reprioritisation to shift resources for services delivery at the front end.

• Estimates of the provincial pharmaceutical budget will be ring fenced.

• A system to monitor key operations at a hospitals that influence health system quality.

Various interventions for Medico-Legal claims introduced:

(i) Quantification of the contingent liability: The current contingent liability as at June 2019 is R 100 822 486 781. 93. However, most of these claims as frivolous and vexatious. The Department is in the process of identifying the legitimate claims.

(ii) Mediation: The patient admission forms have been standardized across the Provinces to make the provision for mediation. There are already 18 officials from Provinces who have been trained for mediation. These include Legal and Medical officers. The Department will also train the officials to implement patient admission forms for mediation.

(iii) Provision of future medical treatment: Department has published Public Health facilities, in Government Gazette No 42687 of 5 September 2019, to provide for future medical services instead of advance payment of future medical expenses. This will address the future medical expenses that constitute over 80 percent of the quantum (amount) claimed. This will ensure that our facilities continue to function effectively and efficiently.

• Training materials to train clinic committees and Hospital Boards has been developed, training has begun in three (3) provinces.

• A draft proposal to fast track the infrastructure backlog has been developed.

Quality improvement plan has been developed and funded, training will resume in September.

The copy of the Health Compact is hereby attached as Annexure 1.

END.