21 October 2005
We have spent the past two days debating with hospital managers and CEO about various issues relating to the delivery of the quality of care in our public hospitals.
It was good that we came together to have an open and frank discussion about issues affecting service delivery and share ideas and experience on measures that can be taken to improve the service.
We are going to ensure that the managers meet every year and will establish a website which can be used to share information and improve interaction amongst hospital managers. This will also assist the MECs and me in communicating directly with hospital managers. There is a need to improve communication within the health system and ensure that management and staff share a common goal of a better health all.
The meeting discussed the issues of quality control and the national Department will now have to finalise the draft policy on quality that should guide our efforts to improve the quality of services we provide.
The meeting was also briefed on the progress being made in finalising the Human Resource Plan for Health. The Plan will assist in guiding the Department's efforts to improve the supply and distribution of health personnel to enable better service delivery.
Efforts to improve the working condition for health workers should be intensified. These include provision of appropriate accommodation where possible, improving safety and creating enabling environment for health workers to work in remote or inhospitable areas.
We discussed extensively the issue of discipline in our facilities. There is a need for all managers to be familiar with labour relations policies. The managers resolved that they should be decisive in instilling discipline as provided for in the relevant labour legislation.
There is a need to monitor performance and ensure that every employee performs his or her duties effectively. The support of the provincial departments is critical in assisting managers in this regard and provincial departments should ensure that hospital managers deliver on their key performance areas.
There is need to have standard core function and competencies to assist in measuring performance of hospital managers.
It is important that we hold a meeting that should focus exclusively on this matter of discipline, which should involve representatives of organised labour and professional council to ensure that we all have a common approach in improving performance.
The meeting agreed that managers should focus on improving relations in their facilities particularly amongst staff, management, boards and communities.
Managers will ensure that hospitals are clean and tidy at all times. We also discussed the issue of infection control in hospitals and there is need for further discussion on this matter. In the meantime, we will be working with managers in implementing the Hand Washing Campaign that encourages hygiene practices amongst health workers and communities to prevent various infections.
The national infection control policy is being reviewed to ensure that it effectively assist all stakeholders to deal with this challenge. The policy cover prevention, surveillance and management of hospital acquired infections.
In discussing the challenge of long queues particularly in admission and pharmacy sections, the meeting noted that non-adherence to referral system is putting pressure on hospitals. Community members should be encouraged to use their local clinics as first point of contact with the health system. Better utilisation of primary health care facilities will allow hospitals to focus on referred cases.
This has been a worthy exercise. I am glad that the Deputy Minister and all the MECs for Health have been able to attend to ensure that we all follow up on the commitments made here and we collectively deliver on our commitment to quality healthcare.
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Minister of Health