Issued by the National Department of Health
26 June 2005
As we celebrate the golden jubilee of the founding of the Freedom Charter, our health care interventions will continue to be directed by the vision of health care as envisaged in this noble document of the people premised on quality preventative health care.
On that day the people of South Africa - black and white - declared: " A preventative health scheme shall be run by the state".
This very declaration has been serving as our guiding principle for our vision to overhaul the country's health care system that is accessible, affordable and of caring and high quality.
The clause of the Charter is emphatic in its call for prevention as an overarching strategy towards the provision of an effective health service. This government has always regarded prevention as a cornerstone for healthcare provision and has in the past eleven years of our democratic rule been working tirelessly in ensuring the successful realization of this ideal.
The prevention and reduction of non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension and non-natural causes of death remain a key priority of government's programme of action.
The major factors behind the high burden of these diseases are lack of exercise, poor nutrition and health risky behaviour such as smoking and alcohol abuse. The strengthening of our health promotion campaigns with a particular focus on promoting public health awareness and encouraging healthy lifestyles is central to our response.
In heeding to the President's state of the nation's address call we have been embarking on an aggressive health promotion campaign countrywide that culminated in the launch for the national Move for Health initiative. The campaigns promote general healthy behaviour through eating healthy food, exercising, responsible use of alcohol and non-smoking as a way to prevent chronic lifestyle diseases. This is complemented by other activities such as mass health screenings for the detection and treatment of these diseases.
Government's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) remains central in the assault against the spread of vaccine preventable diseases for children such as measles and polio. We will continue in strengthening this campaign to ensure sustainable and improved coverage of the country's level of immunization.
The adoption of the Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment Plan by this government in 2003 - hailed as one of the best in the world - provided further testament to our commitment for a preventative approach in curbing the spread of communicable diseases in the country with prevention being the cornerstone of the programme.
Fifty years ago the Congress in Kliptown also declared: "Free Medical care and hospitalization shall be provided for all, with special care for mothers and young children". To fulfill this mandate our first democratically elected government moved boldly in announcing the provision of free health care for pregnant women and children under the age of six. This was extended to the provision of free primary health care for all. Most recently free health care was also extended to people with disabilities. In addition there is a free health care at all levels including hospitals for the unemployed and pensioners.
To further fulfill the aspirations of the Congress of the People government continues to explore innovative ways to extend free medical health care for our people as espoused in the Charter
The recent enactment of the National Health Act bears testimony to this. The Act makes provision for the inclusion of other categories of persons who may be eligible for free health services. Government is continuously exploring strategies to make health care more affordable in both the public and private sectors.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the Department of Health has reviewed barriers to accessing affordable health care. To this end the Department is currently reviewing the hospital fee schedule in all public hospitals.
As government we will always strive to ensure that we champion transformation programmes that seek to meet the aspirations of the poor and the marginalised. We would not allow socio-economic circumstances to deny people access to essential services such as health.
Let these efforts be a tribute to the aspirations of the Congress of the People who gathered in Kliptown on the 26th of June 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter by declaring to the world: "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white…."
National Health Minister
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Enquiries: Solly Mabotha: 083 678 9860