“The act provides for the establishment of provincial health councils in each of the provinces as structures that must feed into the National Health Council”
THE NORTHERN Cape MEC for Health, Mase Manopole, yesterday established a Provincial Health Council that will be responsible for providing policy concerning any matter that will protect, promote, improve and maintain the health of the Province’s citizens.
The inaugural meeting of the council took place at Platfontein Lodge and among those who attended were representatives from the South African Local Government Association (Salga).
Manopole had announced the establishment of the council during her 2019/20 Budget Speech.
It is expected to play a strategic role as part of the decision-making landscape in the delivery of health services in the Province.
The MEC elaborated that the establishment of the Provincial Health Council is in accordance with section 27(2) and (3), section 28 (1)(c) and section 24 (a) of the Constitution, and in line with the National Health Act, No. 61 of 2003.
“The act provides for the establishment of provincial health councils in each of the provinces as structures that must feed into the National Health Council,” Manopole said.
“As per the act, one of the key mandates of the Provincial Health Council is to ensure efficient co-ordination of health services, promote and foster a spirit of co-operation, collaboration and shared responsibility among medical professionals, health providers and other relevant sectors within the context of national, provincial and district health services.”
Manopole pledged her unwavering support for all members entrusted with serving on the council and further encouraged them to build a system of co-operative governance and management of health services within the national guidelines, norms and standards.”
She explained that one of the department’s reasons for implementing the Provincial Health Council was to establish ward-based outreach teams supported by community health workers.
“We must recognise that this work cannot succeed without the involvement of local government and other provincial departments.
“Many of the factors that influence the health of our communities and patients depend on interventions and support from the municipal structures and on complementary programmes from other departments”, Manopole said.
The MEC also aims to establish district health councils, which are also mandated by the act, to complement the work done by the provincial Department of Health.
