The two-day Presidential Health Summit covered everything from challenges to funding a National Health Insurance to the need to re-think doctor training and end cadre deployment. (David Harrison)
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s two-day health summit concludes Saturday. Held in Boksburg east of Johannesburg, the meeting attracted more than 100 government officials, researchers, private health sector representatives and activists who discussed challenges and opportunities on the road to the National Health Insurance.
Corruption, the private sector’s involvement as well as proposals to centralise increasing aspects of healthcare under the National Health Insurance Bill were just some of the topics under discussion.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is increasingly focusing on combatting corruption within the high-risk health sector, SIU head advocate Andy Mothibi revealed. He also announced that body has proposed a special anti-corruption forum for the health sector, which he says would include civil society.
“We want independent investigations that are turned around quickly and submit and identify findings appropriately. Once those findings come out, there’s this worry that there is no action,” Mothibi explains.
“We would like to make sure that the space is known for taking actions. Prosecutions, civil litigations, disciplinary actions have to follow.”
Read Deputy President David Mabuza’s closing remarks below.
Then watch as delegates run through the key points of the summit below.