DENOSA response to last night's State of the Nation Address (SONA)
Friday, 13 February 2015
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is disappointed that almost nothing was mentioned on health, as we had expected the State President to dwell a little more on health matters in general and nursing in particular in the State of The Nation Address (SONA) that he delivered in Parliament last night.
The fact that there were not more than two lines dedicated to health matters in the statement makes DENOSA concerned about seriousness of healthcare challenges in the eyes of national government. DENOS acknowledges the announcement of government's plan to launch a TB programme with a special focus on offenders at Correctional Services facilities, mineworkers and communities in mining towns, as well as the announcement of the establishment of the state-owned pharmaceutical company, Ketlaphela, to partake in the supply of ARVs to the Department of Health.
However, the fact that these two points were the only message on health in the speech gives an impression that there is little progress to talk about, and not too many plans ahead.
Key among DENOSA's expectations were the following urgent matters:
- Updates on the progress of implementing National Health Insurance (NHI), White Paper on NHI and state of affairs on NHI pilot sites, given the urgent need to safeguard the health of South Africans where the state is expected to play a leading role in taking charge of this.
- The report on the progress of the revitalization and refurbishment of the closed nursing colleges through the country as announced in the 2011 SONA.
- Government plan to fill vacant positions for essential service workers, as opposed to Finance Minister's announcement in his Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement of austerity measures through withdrawing funding for government positions that have been vacant for some time.
- Progress on the Presidential Remuneration Commission which was set up to look at the appropriateness of remuneration of government employees.
DENOSA still believes that speeding up the implementation of NHI has become urgent, given the high costs of private medical aids which have led to the inquiry into the high fees that private hospital groups charge. Surely, NHI would arrest this situation while also strengthening the country's primary health system.
With the high resignation of public servants, especially the mass exodus that was triggered by rumours that pension fund lump sums will no longer be accessible after the 1st of March 2015 which has exacerbated matters, the high vacancy rates at government facilities are alarming and putting more strain on the remaining workers. About 4 600 public servants left government in November alone, as per the confirmation Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). And more positions have been vacant for some time.
Furthermore, the severe shortage of nurses may become counter-productive to the very same plan of tackling TB in the three focus areas, as this plan will require personnel at a time when Finance Minister announced withdrawing of funding for some vacant government positions.
The shortage of nurses due largely to resignations galore is the main cause of long queues in the case of health centres. Nurses were waiting with baited breath on what solution does our government have on these challenges.
DENOSA had hoped that these issues and many others will be touched upon by the President, as quality of service is lowering tremendously as a result of shortage of stuff, leading to low staff morale and more resignations.
Statement issued by Simon Hlungwani, DENOSA President, February 13 2015
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