Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) commends Minister on appointment of hospital CEOs
The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) welcomes the Department of Health’s appointment of new CEOs to 102 of the country’s public hospitals as part of government’s strategy to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
“We are impressed with the thorough manner in which this process has been carried out and with the interviewing and appointment of qualified healthcare managers to so many public hospitals,” says HASA CEO, Dr Dumisani Bomela. “These appointments lay the foundation for the better management of our state institutions, which is critical to the success of the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.”
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, announced last week that the qualification criteria for hospital managers had been standardised and included basic requirements, such as being a health worker first and foremost, as well as having had five years experience in middle and top management within the healthcare system.
“This is a welcome move as it will ensure that those in charge of hospitals will be appropriately qualified, ensuring the effective administration, governance and operation of state hospitals,” says Bomela. “Hospital managers need not only fulfil a financial management role in that they are required to take charge of huge budgets, but they are also required to understand the clinical complexities involved in running a large hospital.”
Bomela says HASA will continue to contribute to the training and development of hospital CEOs in the public sector through the Social Compact Forum – a collaborative initiative between the public and private healthcare sectors set up to fund selected health initiatives, including the training of additional healthcare professionals and building further management capacity in public hospitals.
“Our members are ready to work hand-in-hand with government to assist in every way they can using the expertise they have acquired working in the South African health system,” adds Bomela. “We support the government’s view that the best possible talent is needed to drive healthcare reform in the years ahead.”
