Hon Chair the ACDP notes yesterday's approval of the Nation Health Insurance Bill by Cabinet, which the President in his state of the nation address said, aims to reduce inequality and improve access to public health and private health facilities. We have one common enemy in this room, and that is indifference. Indifference is to the plight of the poor and the vulnerable. Indifference is at the heart of a man who died outside a Western Cape Provincial Hospital who died after waiting to be treated since the early hours of the morning. Indifference when a nurse cringes to perform basic observations on a patient because of the state of his appearance. Indifference when a young mother inexperienced, scared and overwhelmed after being up all night with a sick infant, is not addressed in her mother tongue but made to feel foolish and unintelligent because the primary care nurse could not be bothered to take the time to listen or to call an interpreter.
We have to ensure that we foster a caring and compassionate health sector as set out in the White Paper on Health. The target set out by the department of 50% satisfaction at primary health care
facilities does not reflect that aim, is sadly far from being realized. This said, we can learn from the example of the health care facilities, where I have experienced, first hand, the commitment to best practice. Their example should be lauded and emulated throughout the nation. Pockets of best practice are being displayed in some facilities. The facility that I visited in Ravensmead I met a wide eyed, young woman, passionate about the health profession, a third generation health professional, and she impressed us with her enthusiasm.
We need to develop a retention strategy for our doctors; pharmacists, nurses and we need to make sure that they are safe. We cannot afford to continue to bleed talented, passionate health professionals. Effective intersectoral collaboration is cited by researches as key to address social determinants. Hon Minister, we as the ACDP are calling on this department together with the Ministries of Social Development and Human Settlements, to address with urgency the need for special housing. We have been urging the government for years to respond adequately to the plight of our most vulnerable people. This includes those suffering from mental illness, trauma or abuse and the elderly. Families are suffering under the weight and trauma of caring for those who are mentally disturbed. Our current facilities are limited and individuals who
can be restored to health deteriorate even further to a lack of treatment and care that includes special needs housing. Mental illness has increased due to drug addiction and the destructive effects of drugs such as Tik and Whoonga. We implore the Minister to support this policy. It that has been waiting for the last twenty years. Care cannot be siloned it must be linked.
Lastly, I wish to quote Florence Nightingale, who said and I quote:
It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm.
Our hospitals should not be mortuaries but places of healing. Thus, we appreciate the comments and we appreciate what Dr Dhlomo has said here. South Africans are waiting for this House and for all of us to work together to make their lives better. I thank you. [Applause