The healthcare system needs to improve, admits Mabuza
Deputy President David Mabuza says it’s no secret that the country’s health system needs to improve.
Mabuza addressed the opening of the Presidential Health Summit in Boksburg on Friday.
The summit comes amid the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in 2019.
“We all agree that our health system has to improve, to address these current existing challenges. We need a systematic change that will outlive us and become a gift to the new generation.
“Over the past few months, there has been a serious outcry from all corners of our country, about the shortage of the workforce in the public sector. Whereas the president has agreed to inject a certain number of health workforce, this will be viewed as a temporary measure for immediate relief,” Mabuza said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced an economic stimulus package’, which is aimed at improving economic growth and reducing unemployment.
Mabuza said the money should flow towards the country’s Health system.
“Alongside this transformation initiatives, we need to prioritise the development of new infrastructure in previously underserviced areas and ensure that existing infrastructure is properly maintained to meet the required standard. In many areas our infrastructure is failing an unable to cope with service standards of a growing population. We have to develop a consistent 10 year infrastructure plan using identified and ring fenced infrastructure resources. We believe that the President’s R400 bn infrastructure fund must also take care of the health infrastructure."