South Africa Signs Second Presidential Health Compact to Strengthen National Healthcare System

Tshwane, 22 August 2024 – Today, Acting President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile presided over the signing of the Second Presidential Health Compact at the Union Buildings in Tshwane. The event brought together key government officials, including Minister of Health Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi and Minister of Science and Innovation Dr. Blade Nzimande, along with representatives from the health sector, business, labour, and civil society, to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing South Africa’s healthcare system.

In his address, Acting President Mashatile underscored the critical role that health plays in the nation’s prosperity, quoting the Roman poet Virgil, “The greatest wealth is health.” He highlighted that a healthy population is essential for a productive and prosperous nation, emphasizing the importance of achieving universal health coverage as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“South Africa is committed to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages,” said Mashatile, reaffirming the government’s dedication to improving healthcare accessibility and quality across the country.

The Second Presidential Health Compact represents a continued commitment to tackling the significant challenges within South Africa’s public healthcare system, such as human resource shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and inefficiencies in healthcare delivery. The first Presidential Health Compact, signed in 2018, laid the groundwork for these efforts, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders to support the Department of Health’s initiatives.

Since the inception of the first compact, the government has made notable progress in enhancing the healthcare system. For example, the introduction of the Human Resources Training Grant during the COVID-19 pandemic led to the creation of over 73,000 new healthcare positions. Additionally, the Public Health Enhancement Fund has successfully trained 100 doctors and 75 graduates at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.

Acting President Mashatile also emphasized the expansion of access to medicines and medical devices, as well as the importance of developing local manufacturing capabilities to secure the nation’s health, particularly during pandemics. “Building a stronger local manufacturing industry is key to our country’s health security,” he stated.

The event also highlighted the role of technology in improving healthcare, such as the implementation of the Health Patient Registration System, which now includes over 50 million registered patients. Moreover, there has been a significant expansion of health infrastructure, with 149 new primary healthcare facilities completed and 30 new hospitals either opened or under construction.

However, Mashatile acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly regarding healthcare funding in the face of budget cuts and a constrained fiscal environment. He commended the efforts of the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum in reducing financial losses and stressed the importance of continuing public-private partnerships to strengthen the health system.

With the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act now signed into law, the Acting President called for even greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure quality healthcare for all South Africans. He emphasized that the success of the Second Presidential Health Compact would depend on the collective efforts of all stakeholders to implement effective solutions and overcome ongoing challenges.

“Our nation’s health is too critical, too essential to development, to be weakened by mismanagement, funding crises, and other problems,” Mashatile concluded. He urged all partners to maintain their commitment to improving the healthcare system, with a strong focus on effective policy implementation as a priority of the Seventh Administration.

The signing of the Second Presidential Health Compact is viewed as a crucial step in advancing South Africa’s healthcare system, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for all citizens.