NW convenes healthcare indaba

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Pretoria - The North West Health and Social Development Department is to hold a two-day consultative forum aiming to improve the provision of healthcare services in the province.

The forum, to start on Thursday, aims to involve both internal and external stakeholders to participate in and advise the department on its policies and programmes targeted at improving the provision of healthcare services.

The forum will discuss, among others, improving health status of communities through implementation of integrated health programme; promotion of healthy living; management of district health system; and providing accessible, equitable and affordable comprehensive primary healthcare services.

Traditional leaders, traditional health practitioners, provincial health authorities, municipal representatives and sector institutions have been invited to the forum held at Mmabatho Palms.

The department said the stakeholders will form part of the multi-sectoral approach to advance and monitor delivery of healthcare services to the people through the establishment of a provincial health consultative forum according to section 28 of the National health Act of 2003.

The Act requires Members of the Executive Council to establish a consultative body functioning within the jurisdiction of the province, the department said.

The forum will be officially opened by MEC for Health and Social Development Rebecca Kasienyane.