PHANGO SUPPORTS THE WHO PATIENT SAFETY INITIATIVE

VISIT THE WHO PATIENT SAFETY SITE

What is patient safety?

Patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care. The discipline of patient safety is the coordinated efforts to prevent harm, caused by the process of health care itself, from occurring to patients. Over the past ten years, patient safety has been increasingly recognized as an issue of global importance, but much work remains to be done.

Executive Summary

The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) welcomes the opportunity to engage in an open debate on strategic health reform. The Foundation sees this opportunity as a way to foster greater collaboration and critical, yet constructive, dialogue between civil society and government in terms of the policy-making process.  Download the HSF's full submission HERE

Challenges facing South Africa’s health system

The Department of Health has clearly made significant gains in certain areas of the health system. However, the situation analysis in this submission presents a picture of a South African health system which is underperforming in almost every area. South Africa spends similar, and in some cases more, on health care than its peer countries, and yet is experiencing poor health outcomes and a rise in the burden of major diseases. Although acknowledging many of the problems in the health system, the National Health Insurance (NHI) Green Paper fails to provide evidence-based links between the poor health outcomes and their causes.

The Green Paper cites the two-tiered health system and inequalities between the public and the private sector as the root causes of the majority of South Africa’s poor health outcomes. While these factors may undermine an attempt at creating equality in society, this proposition fails to take into account the systemic, institutional problems evident in both the public and the private health systems. The problems in the public health system include: lack of governance and accountability, ineffective monitoring and evaluation, poor management, over-centralisation, lack of implementation of existing policies, and corruption. The issues resulting in rising costs and inefficiencies faced by the private sector include: market imperfections, a lack of price competition and lack of effective regulation. Whether or not these issues can be resolved by the introduction of a NHI scheme remains unclear.

Review of the Green Paper

The HSF finds that the Green Paper is characterised by statements and claims which are not supported by evidence or appropriate references. The Green Paper also lacks much of the detail required to provide a more engaged response to the policy proposals. A primary concern is that the apparent lack of a comprehensive, evidence-based plan could result in further deterioration of the health system. It is imperative that clear and reliable evidence is provided to demonstrate that the policy proposals of the Green Paper will improve the ability of South Africans to access health care.

PHANGO is back - revitalised and rearing to go.

This year PHANGO will focus on patient advocacy as it relates to:

• our members' educational needs
• the National Health Insurance debate
• medicine safety -- with special emphasis on administration, side effect reporting
• noncommunicable chronic diseases
• medical scheme monitoring

Bipolar Disorder affects up to 3-4% o the population in South Africa and is the 6th leading cause of disability in the world.
Bipolar Disorder is not restricted to any social or educational class, race, or nationality

Bipolar Disorder was previously known as Manic-Depressive illness

Bipolar Disorder is a physical illness marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, thinking and behaviour

Bipolar Disorder is typically seen as episodes of deep depression and manic highs

Bipolar Disorder often disrupts work, school, family and social life