Industry News

HASA CONGRATULATES MOTSOALEDI

12 May 2009

In Categories: Industry News , Industry News > General , Industry News > Patients

HASA congratulates Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Dr Molefi Sefularo for their appointments as the Minister of Health and Deputy respectively. We believe these are appropriate appointments, considering the inherent needs of health care service delivery within the Republic. Whilst ensuring both continuity of those reforms enunciated under Minister Barbara Hogan and the injection of new ideas into this important department.

HASA is encouraged that Motsoaledi has a strong managerial background, which we believe is essential for appropriate health care service delivery. He is also a medical doctor and will thus be sensitive to both clinical realities and patient needs. Motsoaledi’s understanding of policy formulation, legislation, and the norms and standards of governance will, in the opinion of HASA, provide useful basis to manage the needs of the Department. South Africa’s healthcare should benefit from Motsoaledi’s experience and dynamism.

From his tenure as the head of Hlahlolanang Health and Nutrition Project in the late 80s to his time as head of the ruling party’s Economic Desk and Infrastructure as well as MEC for Education in Limpopo, Motsoaledi has had a wealth of managerial experience, all of which will be of significant advantage to a demanding Ministry.
Sefularo has been at the coalface of healthcare delivery for the past 10 years as MEC for health in North West. Many will agree that together with former Minister of Health Hogan, Sefularo has done much to build bridges, encourage partnerships and correctly identify critical needs within the Department of Health. The new minister must continue to build on this foundation.

There are tremendous challenges ahead for Motsoaledi and Sefularo. The continuing inequalities of the apartheid system, the HIV epidemic and lack of resources have left the health system with many demands. Motsoaledi's biggest challenges will be to develop a feasible human resources plan for health workers and implement the National Health Insurance System proposed by the ANC.

The government had admitted in the past that achieving its goal of improving the health status of the population and achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in an affordable manner will not be easy. More importantly Motsoaledi must not only shape debate around this important proposal but also ensure all stakeholders participate and feel part of the solution. Motsoaledi should be encouraged by the ANC manifesto’s commitment “to engage with the private sector in the implementation of the NHI system”.

HASA will cooperate and assist the Department of Health to meet healthcare challenges and ensure access to quality healthcare. But in laying a lasting foundation, Motsoaledi should focus on the shortage of skills, curbing the migration of health-care professionals and ensuring improved service delivery.