Research to take centre stage at health summit

Monday, February 12, 2018

The upcoming Research and Innovation Summit by the Gauteng Health Department is expected to tackle the use of research as a means to deliver an effective health system.

“The overarching objective is to increase awareness about the need to use evidence based research and improve stakeholder participation in the delivery of an effective health system. This is in line with the priorities made in the Budget Vote Address last year to repurpose and modernise the department,” said Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa.

The inaugural summit will take place from 15-16 February 2018 at Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg.  

Under the theme “evidence and innovation for long and healthy lives: confronting risks and unlocking the potentials”, academics, administrators, students, community representatives, health service providers will discuss research and best practices.

Some of the topics that will be on the table include mental health, integrated management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, innovative approach to health care services, preparing for roll-out of National Health Insurance, improved health and well-being of children and woman and the sustainable development goals.

“We have engaged the support of the National eHealth team, the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of eGovernance regarding Transformation, Modernisation and Re-Industrialisation.

According to the department, progress has been made in reducing waiting times in patient administration, improving availability of medicines, improving communication with pregnant mothers for antenatal and postnatal care as well as in saving costs due to inventory management.

“Building on these successes an integrated interoperable system will, empower patients to understand their health and access to the health system, enable better care as well as improve the efficiency of the health system,” said the MEC. –SAnews.gov.za