1. PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MAY 2010

2. 2 ISSUES RELATED TO DISABILITY PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY DISABILITY PATIENTS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH TREATMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY LIVE AS HEALTHY A LIFE AS POSSIBLE – THIS IS THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOH HOWEVER PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE MADE INDIGENT AS A RESULT OF DISABILITY OR ARE POOR – REQUIRE ASSISTANCE BY THE STATE TO ASSIST PATIENTS TO BENEFIT MAXIMALLY FROM TREATMENT POOR PATIENTS MAY REQUIRE ACCESS TO FOOD AND TRANSPORT

3. 3 HEALTH SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS THE HEALTH 10 POINT PLAN CALLS FOR THE STRENTHENING OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM OVER 5 YEARS IN SPECIFIC WAYS – AS DOCUMENTED IN THE NDOH STRATEGIC PLAN KEY AMONGST THESE THAT RELATE TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ARE: –NHI –OVERHAULING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND IMPROVE ITS MANAGEMENT

4. 4 READINESS TO IMPLEMENT THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT BILL THE DEPARTMENT WILL NEED TO: –DIAGNOSE AND TREAT PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES (AS A MATTER OF COURSE) –ENSURE EASY ACCESS TO PATIENTS TO TREATMENT IN THE EVENT THAT THE CONDITION IS CHRONIC –USE THE HARMONISED ASSESSMENT TOOL TO ASSESS PATIENTS’ ELIGIBILITY FOR DISABILITY GRANTS

5. 5 READINESS CONTD IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED IN VARIOUS WAYS KEY TO STRENGTHENING PHC IS THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY CARE IN AN INTEGRATED MANNER AS OUTLINED IN THE ALMA ATA DECLARATION IN 1978 (RATIFIED SINCE)

6. 6 STRENGTHENING SERVICE DELIVERY – SOME EXAMPLES PAGES 86-88 OF THE STRAT PLAN NOTES A SERIES OF KEY INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN PHC OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES INCLUDING IMMUNISATION, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAMMES, DECREASING INCIDENCE OF HIV AND TB SIGHT RESTORATION (CATARACT SURGERY) IMPROVED DIABETES CONTROL CHRONIC DISEASE MODEL OF SERVICE DELIVERY IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICINES INCLUDING CHRONIC MEDICATION (WC, KZN, GP, NW, NC, LP)