Cape Town - An evaluation of all Chief Executive Officers (CEO) at public hospitals is to be carried out to ensure they meet the requirements for effective management.
Tabling his Budget Vote on Tuesday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the department would embark on strengthening health specific management capacity for programmes and facilities, especially hospitals.
"In this case, we shall evaluate all CEOs of hospitals to ensure that they meet the minimum requirements for effective management of the set facility and institute corrective measures where indicated, including retraining and/or redeployment," the minister said.
The department will draft proposals for legal reforms to unify the public health service and also develop a decentralised operational model, including new governance arrangements.
"We will also finalise delegations for all managers at all levels of the public health system and spend attention on hospital managers or CEOs to ensure decentralisation of management," he said.
A feasibility study for the establishment of a leadership academy of health managers would also be conducted.
The minister said the department will further allocate resources for the 10 priorities in line with the department's Programme of Action, which include improved human resource planning, development and management.
The department will focus on improving the quality of the health services, revitalisation of health infrastructure, mass mobilisation for better health for the population, review of drug policy as well as strengthening research and development.
The minister also identified some of the challenges affecting the health system, which included the lack of managerial skills within health institutions, failure to cut on identified deficiencies, delayed response to quality improvement requirements and unsatisfactory maintenance and repair services.
Other factors include poor technological management, poor supply chain management and inability of individuals to take responsibility for their actions.
Significant problems in clinical areas related to training and poor attitude of staff as well as inadequate staffing levels in all areas were also identified.
The minister committed to face all these issues head on without fear and favour. "We owe it to our country that these issues be tackled head on," he said.
