Underspending of provincial budgets is one of the main problems in delivering health services to the country's most needy citizens. Judging from the budget presentations made to the Parliamentary health portfolio committee by the nine provinces, the provinces that need the most support are the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga.
Problems of overcrowding and long queues could soon be a thing of the past with the addition of a R500 million new wing to Umtata General Hospital and 800 new posts for doctors, nurses and support staff. The complex is due to be finished in May says Mahlubandile Mageda, spokesperson for Eastern Cape Health Department.
The Moral Regeneration Summit, which begins on April 18 in Pretoria, will create a dynamic broad-based movement that will affirm the dignity of people in South Africa, Arts and Culture Minister Dr Ben Ngubane said.
Cabinet is due to release proposals this month that could alter the entire foundation of South Africa's healthcare system by changing the way health is financed. Proposals for a social health insurance scheme will be open to comment and debate before the final recommendations are made.
The 2001 South African Health Review (SAHR) has made a priority in its annual report card of reflecting what South African patients, politicians and health workers have to say about health services and delivery. Produced annually by the non-governmental organisation, the Health Systems Trust, the review has dedicated significant space to the "voices" of service users, facility managers, hospital superintendent/managers, district managers, provincial managers, parliamentarians and policy makers.
The profile of hospital superintendents is changing - although white male doctors still predominate, a new picture is emerging in which more and more women are heading up hospitals. The 2001 SA Health Review notes that it is nurses and others in the health profession who increasingly are taking the helm.
Although the South African Constitution stipulates that all municipalities are ultimately expected to take responsibility for district health services, there is still widespread uncertainty as to the extent or limits of such services - and especially how they should best be financed.
Equity lies close to Dr Ivan Toms'€™ heart. Recently appointed as the health director in the City of Cape Town, Toms states unequivocally that the commitment from the city is towards equity, not just in the health department, but in general.
Health conditions in the former Transkei have worsened since 1994, mainly thanks to poor management and budget cuts.
Gauteng and the Western Cape will be hard hit by funding cuts to university hospitals announced in finance minister Trevor Manuel's budget. Conditional grants that allocate funds to teaching hospitals directly from central government are to be rationalised. The move which is designed to promote greater health equity among the provinces will fund tertiary units in 27 hospitals around the country.
On a Tuesday early in February, Bulelwa Maqana arrived at the Gugulethu Community Day Clinic at 8.30am with her son, Mihlali, who had an ear infection.
Debt cancellation, poverty relief and health improvement are key elements that should form part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in August. This was the call by health ministers from the Southern African Development Community who ended a two-day meeting on Tuesday with representatives from China, India, Indonesia and the USA.
A meeting between SADC health ministers and E9 countries to plan for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August has stressed that investing in health is a key driving force in economic development. A WHO study shows that through spending $66 billion on a global programme of key health interventions, the gain in terms of productivity, growth and social contribution would be about $360 billion - a six fold return.
Despite similar incidence of skin cancer in Australia and South Africa, the authorities "down under" have acted far more decisively to ensure that the public understands the dangers of over-exposure to the sun's harmful rays. South Africa needs to get beyond the misperception that skin cancer is something that affects only a pale minority. by Tim Dodd
Skin cancer is not a disease that threatens only fair-skinned South Africans. Darker skins are at risk too and everyone should take protection against the dangers of melanoma. by Tim Dodd
