THE provincial department of health has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the four higher education institutions in the province in a bid to tackle some of the problems in the health sector.
Representatives from Walter Sisulu University (WSU), the University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University were delighted with the pledge they made on Friday.
The four universities agreed to work together to help the department resolve issues including the retention of staff and the bolstering of personnel in the sector.
Among the goals set out for the partnership is ensuring the development of sustainable, equitable and affordable primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services in the province, in line with the efforts of the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy as is being piloted in the 0 R Tambo district.
Other goals include promoting the provision of high-quality academic health programmes, health services and research.
Dr Thobile Mbengashe, head of the provincial department, said the department was guided by the National Development Plan's 2030 vision for health, which sets targets for life expectancy, an HIV/Aids-free generation and full implementation of the NHI.
Mbengashe said a lack of human resources in the province was among the department's biggest problems. The other was infrastructure, which they were working on.
Health MEC Dr Pumza Dyantyi said the MoA served as a reminder of a service delivery commitment made by the provincial government in July.
She said between 2012 and 2014, WSU had produced 74 specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopediatrics, surgery and psychiatry. Of those, only 26 had been absorbed by the department.
"Our failure to provide adequate placement for these specialists remains a critical shortcoming, which we seek to address through these partnerships," Dyantyi said.
Article by: Vuvu Vena
Article Source: Daily Dispatch