Sandton Convention Centre
17 March 2002
Theme: Striving towards excellence in Management
Programme Director
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentleman
All protocol observed.
I would like to recognise the family of Dr Arthur Elias Letele and thank you for agreeing that the prestigious body we are launching tonight be named after our hero, Dr Letele. A little later we will hear more about Dr Letele - a doctor and a true son of Africa - as we honour him tonight.
We are gathered here to officially launch the South African Institute of Health Managers. This is an institution that will bring together people who are leaders of the health sector. These are people who are central in transformation of our sector and in translating policies into operational plans aimed at meeting the diverse needs of our Nation.
This is an evening worth celebrating. We are setting up an institution aimed at improving the quality of health care and provision of services that are efficient and effective. Our focus is on making sure that quality health care is accessible to all South Africans.
As a nation we have asserted through our constitution a fundamental belief that access to health care is, in the first instance, a human right. Health is not a mere commodity. We do not accept that market forces are the best mechanism to distribute health care - certainly not in a country with so much social inequalities, and certainly not in a global economy where the divide between rich and poor countries grows ever wider.
In South Africa, we are spending approximately 8,5% of the gross domestic product on the health sector, which is quite favourable compared to many middle-income countries. Given the percentage of GDP spent on the health sector in general, we should compete favourable with other countries based on the indicators of the health systems as per the World Health Organizations Millennium Goals.
However, our health outcomes are not as good as the amount of resources we put into this sector. We still have a major challenge in the inequitable distribution of these resources. About 60% of health resources is spent on the private sector which caters for about 20% of our population.
This launch is important in our endeavour to address the challenge of inequity as it brings together both the public and private health sector. It recognises that good management is not only important for the public sector but equally important for the private sector.
In the lead up to this launch, there has been a steady public/private collaboration that recognised the imperative of having well trained managers in both our sectors.
South Africa needs managers both in the private and public sector who are able to transform the health care system. Our managers must be astute as they should be change agents and individuals who are committed to the transformation of our country.
We need health managers who are visionaries and who understand the diversity of health care delivery. Good managers are those who understand the historical and critical need to bridge the gaps between the rich and the poor and between rural and urban as an important element in the process of improving the quality of life of our people.
What do we mean by a health manager? Too often, we view managers in a theoretical sense, quoting text book definition of this section of the health professionals. Language experts for instance would tell us that management is a process of managing people within an organisation for attainment of a set of goals and objectives. More than that, I believe that the managers we are talking about tonight are men and women of integrity, who execute their responsibility with zeal, dedication and a clear vision.
These professionals could be functioning at the level of service provision, research institutions, academic environment, policy-making, or any other arena linked to health service delivery. But what is critical is that the efficiency and effectiveness of our health care services depends predominantly on them. It is therefore important that our managers have the necessary capacity and can provide progressive leadership and facilitate participatory decision-making processes.
From 1999, we have been exploring ways and means of establishing an Institute for Health Managers with the focus on development and professionalism of health management. As I have mentioned, this process has been inclusive of both the private and public sectors and it also involved academics, researchers and the non-governmental organizations.
Together with the MEC's for Health last year, we endorsed the establishment of this historic organization. Our view is that this institute is going to bring about service excellence within the parameters of a people's oriented service.
This Institute is going to enhance and promote high standards of professional health management by providing and supporting the education and training of all health managers. The institute will also put in place a programme of continuing professional development to ensure that the managers maintain their competence levels for service delivery.
The key focus areas for this Institute will be:
We view this institute as a symbol of transformation and a critical vehicle in the delivery of quality health services. We expect the members of the institute to maintain highest level of professionalism, integrity and be client focused. It is expected that all members of the institute will adhere to the code of conduct that should enhance the image of the health sector as a whole.
The institute should also be a forum for peer driven initiatives and should facilitate unity among health managers from the public, private and other sectors. Most importantly, the institute should ensure that outcomes attained will result in a high standard of health care for all South African people.
The Institute will achieve its goals through:
It is going to function as a section 21 Company with a board of directors drawn from the public and private sectors, academics and general membership of the institute. We know that the board of Directors will provide the necessary strategic direction and remain vigilant in ensuring that the programmes of the institute respond to the health management needs of our country.
We appreciate the contribution made by the DFID, which has pledged to support this institute for the first three years. I urge all of us to join and be proud members of this historic and prestigious body. Let us all play an advocacy role and mobilize many of our colleagues to get on board. We should ensure that this initiative is successful and sustainable. As you know the true characteristic of managers - Managers can make things happen.
Whether you are practicing in the public, private, academic, policy development or research arena, always remember that your priority is health provision based on the Batho Pele principles and the Patients' Rights Charter.
Please allow me to execute my main duty for tonight.
[Minister moves to unveil the plaque]
I am honoured to officially launch the South African Institute of Health Managers on the 17th day of March of year 2003. As you go fourth, remember the theme for this evening. Strive for excellence in health management.
I THANK YOU