Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
12 July 2024 | 14:11 SAST
2-minute read

Image: AOL

Key points:

• Despite significant inroads made in South Africa’s health system, there is a need to improve its governance.
• A panel has made 8 recommendations that could improve governance.

A panel appointed by the Academy of Science of South Africa found that South Africa’s healthcare system has made significant progress over the last 3 decades, having come a long way from the extremely inequitable and fragmented national health structures that were in place.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Professor Lilian Dudley, who was a part of the panel, said that it was a monumental task to unify the fractured system and implement a governance system that would facilitate progress.

However, the panel also found that there are huge gaps that need to be addressed. In particular, the system of governance in South African healthcare system is in need of redress.

Professor Dudley said that it was found that the problems with governance in the private and public health sector means that the expected outcomes have not been achieved in a dysfunctional health system.

The panel found that certain indicators point to a misfunctioning health system, including the large number of managers in acting positions, frequent changes in senior leadership, worse health outcomes than similarly resourced countries, and overall deterioration of morale and trust in the public health system.

Professor Dudley highlighted that despite an increase in expenditure, South Africa is still achieving poorer health outcomes than many other countries in a similar economic group.

“There are also very vulnerable groups. For instance, less than a third of mental health patients can actually access the care they need. Quality of care is a challenge,” she added.

Professor Dudley explained that while the National Health Insurance Service can provide the necessary funds to overcome inequality in health care, it does not adequately outline how it will improve the quality of care.

“We need something broader than a financing mechanism. And that goal hasn’t been clearly articulated and hasn’t been shared widely with all the stakeholders,” Professor Dudley said.

The panel has recommended an eight-point plan to steer the healthcare system in the right direction, including repairing existing oversight structures, increasing power of authority to local health managers, improving participation at all levels within the system, increasing community participation, and ensuring that competent individuals are not denied leadership roles.

Increased decision-making powers can improve healthcare delivery and combat the current centralised, controlled system, Professor Dudley said.

Dr Dudley discussed an example of increased community participation in the healthcare system: a monitoring project in which members of the public collect their own data to monitor healthcare facilities.

“They have meetings with the health services, with the community, with other service providers like NGOs, to hold them accountable,” Professor Dudley explained.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.