Thapelo Molefe
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has forged ahead with the signing of the Second Presidential Health Compact, aimed at strengthening South Africa’s healthcare system despite criticism and objections.
This milestone event that took place at the Union Buildings on Thursday brought together multiple stakeholders, underscoring the collaborative effort to improve the nation’s well-being.
Mashatile, while assuming presidential duties due to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s temporary absence for medical reasons, also received letters of credibility from 11 new ambassadors.
The ambassadors represent Nicaragua, Guinea, Peru, China, Venezuela, the Holy See, Saudi Arabia, Gabon, Finland, Senegal, and Ghana. This diplomatic engagement highlights South Africa’s commitment to international cooperation.
Mashatile emphasised the importance of collaboration to strengthen South Africa’s healthcare system.
“With the NHI Act now signed into law, it is even more urgent that we work together. As we implement the NHI, we will build on lessons learned to streamline standards and ensure quality of care, whether it is rendered at a public or private facility,” he said.
Mashatile acknowledged the challenges facing the public healthcare system, including financial constraints, mismanagement, and corruption.
However, he noted progress made since the first compact, such as the creation of new posts, expansion of access to medicines, and improvement in patient records systems.
“We need diverse expertise, resources, and collaboration to strengthen health systems and build resilience,” Mashatile said, emphasising the crucial role of the private sector, labour, and civil society.
Mashatile urged stakeholders to share resources, deepen partnerships, and work together to overcome challenges.
“Our nation’s health is too critical to be weakened by mismanagement and funding crises,” he said.
The Second Presidential Health Compact aims to improve healthcare outcomes, increase life expectancy, and lower the disease burden.
The second compact follows the 2023 Presidential Health Summit, which built on the inaugural summit of 2018 and brought together government, business, labour, civil society, health professionals, unions, service users, statutory councils, academia, and researchers to develop sustainable and inclusive solutions to challenges in the national health system.
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) said it has consistently supported the goals of the Presidential Health Compact since its inception in 2018.
However, BUSA said it has not signed the current new version of the Presidential Health Compact because it has been unilaterally amended by the government, transforming its original intent and objectives into an explicit pledge of support for the NHI Act.
“These changes to the Health Compact were made without consultation,” BUSA said in a statement.
Last week, BUSA’s CEO, Cas Coovadia, said the organisation could not support a policy that explicitly endorses the NHI Act in its current form.
“The draft of the Compact that was shared with BUSA promotes the NHI in its current form as the foundation underpinning healthcare reform. BUSA does not agree with this given the serious differences between us and the government as to the appropriateness of the NHI Act, let alone its feasibility as a legislative instrument to underpin universal health coverage,” said Coovadia.
Spokesperson for the President, Vincent Magwenya, said on Tuesday that the stakeholders involved in the Presidential Health Compact are integral to supporting the Department of Health in improving the health system.
“It [the Compact] has a monitoring and evaluation component where roles and responsibilities are assigned to a broad range of stakeholders to support health systems strengthening and preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance,” Magwenya said.
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