It is a not for profit organisation that exists solely to further the interests of its member hospitals. To this end HASA involves itself with national and provincial forums of the Department of Health, as well as their related committees and personnel. We welcome you to our new website.

CONFERENCES PRIVATE HOSPITAL REVIEW 2009 NEWSLETTER RESEARCH

Industry News

Alarming Lack of Doctors

10 July 2008

In Categories: Industry News , Industry News > General

OUR state health sector is in crisis. And as much as Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and her director-general Thami Mseleku would want to downplay the reality, we do not have the human resources to continue propping up a buckling health system. Last week Dr Clarence Mini of Africa Health Placements told South Africa's first TB conference that there are more South African-qualified doctors working abroad than there are in the public health sector commented the Star 8 July 2008.

Mini's presentantion revealed that most rural areas, which have been under-resourced and underserved for decades and continue to be so today, have around three doctors for every 100 000 patients. While provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape are much better resourced in terms of doctors, provinces such as Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape have almost no specialist doctors. Also, what is even more baffling, Mini points out, is that while we are struggling to plug the holes with doctors from Tunisia and Cuba, doctors from various African countries are working as car attendants as their applications to work in the rural areas are declined. More than 500 qualified South African doctors work in New Zealand, over 1 300 in Canada, and many thousands in Britain and United States. This while we have more than 4 000 doctor vacancies in the public sector. What has South Africa done to address the crisis? Not much, if you go on Mini's presentation. The medical schools continue to train the same number of doctors they did in the 1970s, and the Health Department's human resources plan proposes that the doctor workforce consist of only 5% foreign doctors, this while the global average is around 25%. One does not want to be over-pessimistic or alarmist, but while Mseleku and company are having meetings, signing memorandums and defending unworkable policies, poor and sick patients who rely on the state health sector are suffering. For millions, accessing a doctor, something many of us take for granted, is the difference between life and death.

Download: Alarming Lack of Doctors
PDF FILE / Size: 2.1 MB

FAQ

I am concerned at the practice of some anaesthetists, who transfer still intubated patients to the recovery room where they are left with the nursing staff to be extubated, while the anaesthetists return to theatre to anaesthetize the next patient. Who

I underwent major surgery at a private hospital and as a result have suffered many complications as a result of, in my opinion, the action of my doctor. What can I do about this situation?

I was recently admitted to a private hospital. Although I am on a medical scheme, my hospital bill was not settled in full and I had to pay in an amount of R82,00. Is this hospital entitled to this money?

NEWS

DOCUMENTS

Lucas Malambe is Hasa's Executive Officer, Corporate Communications educated at the universities of the North and Witwatersrand. Malambe has a postgraduate qualification in Business Management and Economics from the University of Johannesburg where he is finishing his Masters in Commerce (Business Management).

He is also the editor of the prestigious research-driven publications Health Annals and the monthly Hasa News.

He has seven years experience in public communications having worked for DRUM magazine as a health journalist, sub-editor, and columnist. Lucas also worked for Lifeline Southern Africa interfacing with the organisation's various publics. At this time he contributed regularly to publications such as Business Day's Health Supplement and Mshana as a health correspondent and health-advice columnist respectively.

click here for contact details

Hasa Awards of Excellence: Call for Nominations

13 July 2010

The annual Hasa Awards of Excellence are part of the Ministerial Healthcare Awards. This year's theme is Quality is Excellence. The process to find the best of the best in the private hospital industry is nearing its end. The Health Excellence Awards 2010 will take place in November 2010 and the deadline date for submission of entries is 07 October 2010.

LegalWatchJune02,68

15 June 2010

The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 (as amended). How does it affect healthcare?

Several outstanding provisions of the Children’s Act [Act 38 of 2005] have become operational. The relevant Government Gazette has made the date upon which the law became operational as being 01 April 2010.

Hasa Code of Ethics

07 June 2010

Click here for doc's


The Hospital Association of South Africa is a non-statutory body; the Association will gladly act as a mediator and will investigate an incident on behalf of a patient, or relative.

Lodge a Complaint