Chair, the ACDP is acutely conscious of the fact that maternal and child mortality rates have escalated and show no signs of decreasing. We are, however, encouraged by the Minister's proactive, considered approach to the multiple challenges impacting on these statistics and we support efforts to get to and target the real causes. The ACDP will support the budget.
The ACDP is concerned that nationally we are continuing to provide equitable funding for increasingly inequitable services. Provinces are funded for a full range of services at the various levels of care, but they have not developed the capacity to deliver those services.
Because of this, patients migrate to provinces where services are delivered. It is inconvenient for patients and a tremendous burden on these provinces that are not funded for the additional load. So, funding hospitals at the national level, as you have suggested, may be a necessary response. However, would it not be better to ensure that where capacity does exist, provinces receive the increased funding to facilitate that capacity?
In recent years, the issue of a critical shortage of doctors has been acknowledged and the department has spoken about steps being taken to alleviate the situation. The ACDP is concerned that measures have either been inadequate or not prioritised, as no visible improvement in the situation is evident.
What incentives are in place at the moment to attract doctors and surgeons to, or back to, South Africa? There are only 27 paediatric surgeons registered in this country - one paediatric surgeon for almost two million children!
What do we have to do to attract and retain health professionals, and are we doing it? Hon Minister, are we taking seriously the continued dissatisfaction and growing concerns of the few doctors that we do have left working in South Africa?
The ACDP has called for a re-evaluation of legislation and the consideration of the need to establish an independent regulatory body for doctors and dentists. This will not only ensure greater integrity in dealing with professional misconduct and clinical negligence, but will also build confidence within the medical profession.
We know primary health care delivery presently faces many problems, and doctors are saying that for poorer communities access to a general practitioner is often impossible. Clinics are swamped and people with conditions like tonsillitis and appendicitis who cannot get a doctor's attention are at risk.
The SA National Aids Council, Sanac, is increasingly conspicuous in its lack of engagement on important HIV and tuberculosis challenges. The council receives substantial funding, has a clear mandate and over a dozen staff members, but it is not delivering. Stakeholders want to see Sanac driving the development of a new national strategic plan on HIV/Aids, which presently takes approximately 1 000 lives a day.
Lastly, concerns regarding the new Nursing Act stem from the fact that regulations are still not available, so the Act is not fully operational. I am sure this is a concern for you too. Thank you. [Time expired.]