Gauteng Health Comms.
The Gauteng Department of
Health senior managers converge today at Saint Georges Hotel in Pretoria to kick
start their three days Strategic Review and Planning Lekgotla. Attended by over
120 delegates from Gauteng public health facilities, the Strategic Review and
Planning Lekgotla is aimed at consulting with and gain substantive inputs from
the employees towards the development of the new Departmental Five-year
Strategic Plan for the 2020-2025 period.




In his opening remarks, the
Head of Department Professor Mkhululi Lukhele said team Gauteng is gathered
with the renewed vigour and determination to make Gauteng Health work for the
people. 


“Amongst others, we will be reflecting
against the Strategic Plan for the previous term to gain consensus on what has
worked and what has not, what needs to change in order to upscale performance
moving forward. 


“We also take a considerable
amount of time to consider emerging environmental factors in the legislative,
policy and industry environment informing planning for the next five years. We
will also be shooting ourselves in the foot if we cannot talk frankly and
confront some of the challenges that has been taking us aback such as the lack
of team effort, cohesion and common strategic vision leading to silo mentality,
a survivalist narrow focus outlook by management and thus not leveraging on the
expertise and diverse skills available,” said Prof. Lukhele





In setting the tone for the
gathering, MEC Dr Bandile Masuku said: “Today, the tide is turning and a new
optimism is emerging and; we hope it does not flatter to deceive! This new
optimism is felt inside and outside the Department. It is inspired by the cries
of our people from the campaign trail for a better healthcare system in
Gauteng. 



“And it is up to every staff
member to take advantage of this emerging optimism and build a new foundation
for the future! The time we have been waiting for is now and; we are the ones
we have been waiting for! As the Premier said, we will be an "activist and
responsive" government,” said MEC Masuku.



“And we shall draw inspiration
from both signals of hope and despair as we build a new foundation. We are not
in the frontline for the cameras or to catch the bad ones among us! We are in
the frontline because we care, and we want every staff member and patient to
see and know that we know the conditions and we are bringing change.,” added Dr
Masuku.



“We are also on the frontline
to motivate our staff and give hope to our patients! The frontline leadership
approach has logic and method. And today, we are here at the Strategic Planning
Session to clarify that logic and method! The Session must really produce a
Plan that is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound”,
stressed MEC Masuku.



Furthermore, MEC Masuku
reminded the delegates about his maiden Budget Vote Speech which underscored the
building of a "patient-centred, clinician-led, stakeholder-driven"
healthcare system with community responsibility.



“From the onset of the 6th
Administration, it is important that we speak about the five strategic
priorities as a starting point for our planning! But before we do so, we need
to state that we will keep what works and discard what does not.  We have already said that we will continue
with the Recovery Roadmap and other key initiatives such as the Lean project.
We will also continue with the decentralisation model and the legally mandated
provincialisation of the EMS to mention but a few,” added the MEC.


In conclusion, MEC Masuku
emphasised that priorities for the next five years were chosen by the people of
Gauteng who voted with their feet on May 8. Amongst others, the priorities
include improving patient experience, implementation of National Health
Insurance, improving clinical services, heightening Public health education and
awareness, strengthening of clinical, financial, performance and policy
governance.

 


The Strategic Review and
Planning Lekgotla will be in session until Friday and it expected to produce
the Department Five-year Strategic Plan for the 2020-2025 planning period.