As we enter the last days of 2022, it is worthwhile to reflect on some of the events impacting on the health sector in the year that was. It was an eventful year with both the good and bad. Those who have read my posts during 2022 may feel that I concentrate too frequently on the negative and rarely focus on the positive. That may be true but I only reflect the world around me as I see it. I accept that there are amongst us many good people doing great things who are rarely acknowledged and I also accept that maybe I have failed to focus enough on them.…
-
-
What lessons were learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I often read, and at times hear, that many lessons were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been said by some that these can be used to determine the future direction of health care. I have been reflecting on whether there were lessons to be learned and, if so, to what extent they provide insights into the future of healthcare in South Africa. From the position now as an outsider to the mainstream of healthcare policy and management I am aware that the efforts of many in the health sector across the globe went far beyond what was normally in their job descriptions. Health professionals faced with the uncertainties…
-
COVID-19 Lockdowns … can we learn the lessons?
A recent study published in the South African Journal of Science by Bradshaw et al provides interesting reflections on the number of reported COVID-19 deaths in the four waves of coronavirus infections compared against the total number of excess “natural” deaths during the same periods. While in one province, Western Cape, the ratio between reported COVID-19 deaths and the excess natural deaths was 69% in some other provinces, Mpumalanga and Limpopo respectively, the ratios were as low as 10 and 13%. From this it appears that quality of the provincial data systems varies markedly. The data also indicates that the quality of official COVID-19 reporting may be worsening over time. The…
-
COVID-19 … is there another approach?
A recent weekly press briefing by the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde to update the province on the COVID pandemic set me thinking and asking myself some difficult questions. With the advent of the Omicron COVID variant, countries around the world have reacted with further restrictions placed on their citizens. International travel for the average citizen has ground almost to a halt with disastrous consequences for the hospitality industry and the many other commercial entities dependent on this sector. Despite these new and draconian restrictions, almost impulsively implemented, the numbers of Omicron infections across the globe continue to rise. In South Africa where the Omicron variant was first identified, the…
-
The COVID-19 pandemic … is the message the problem?
Bill Maher is an American political commentator and television host of a talk show “Real Time” flighted on HBO. Recently he launched into a monologue on this show, as is his wont, addressing the issue of media reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic. Always controversial and provocative I enjoy his take on various issues with an understandable focus on America and things American. The monologue entitled, “Give it to me straight Doc!” started me thinking about the manner in which the South African media has and continues to report on the COVID-19 pandemic. Maher referred to the penchant of media to focus on the negative referring to their approach that, “If…
-
National Health Insurance … is the time right?
A recent media report in TimesLIVE (8th April 2021) quotes the National Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, as saying that “one of the glaring lessons highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic is the urgent need for universal health coverage (UHC) to ensure no-one is left behind”. Further “the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) is seen as a critical intervention that will assist in restructuring the core components of the health system”. In his opinion central structures such as the Coronavirus Command Council and the Ministerial Advisory Committees created during the pandemic to support governance were able to foster confidence in the interventions proposed and implemented especially those that required a…
-
The COVID-19 jab is here … but not for everyone
In mid-January 2021, I wrote a post entitled “Successful Healthcare Delivery … a missing link could be logistics” and at that time I referred to the then stated target of vaccinating 67% of the South African population by at the latest the end of 2021. It has now been admitted that the country will be unable to achieve this target and at best achieve a target of 40% by February 2022, as implementation has “lost a little time”, far removed from the “herd immunity” referred to by the Minister of Health earlier. While the inability of South Africa to procure vaccines due to “richer countries hogging vaccine supplies” and the…
-
Successful healthcare delivery … a missing link could be Logistics
The term “Logistics”is defined in the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as “the aspect of military science dealing with procurement, maintenance and transport of materiel, facilities and personnel” or stated otherwise “the handling of the details of the operation”. While the term was initially used in a military sense, the term is now used widely in commerce, to refer to how resources are handled and moved along the supply chain. A brief scan of the internet reveals a multitude of universities offering under-graduate and post-graduate degrees in logistics and logistics management. Promoting these courses universities encourage prospective students that embarking on the these courses will prepare them for a successful career in…
-
COVID … is there another way to navigate through difficult times?
I have been reflecting on the latest response by Government to the COVID-19 pandemic. The “second wave”, it has been announced, is upon us in South Africa with even the addition a new COVID strain. Daily there are reports of an increasing count of positive COVID tests, intensive care admissions and sadly COVID-related deaths. So what has been the response to the increase in COVID cases? In a previous article I reflected on the need to develop a community-based response rather than a heavy-handed law and order response. As a seasoned health professional, I fully understand the need to carefully husband the health care resources at the country’s disposal to…
-
Command or Persuade … How people are influenced
In my previous post I argued against the imposition of further “lockdown” measures to address the rising number of COVID-19 cases in areas of South Africa. This has seemed to be a dissenting view when compared to what is the reported policy direction of government to address the resurgence of COVID-19 in areas of South Africa. I was, however, encouraged to read an article “Call to Action: A people-centred approach to disease prevention in the era of COVID-19” published in the Daily Maverick of 30th November 2020 penned by Yogan Pillay and Tracey Naledi. The article echoes many of the sentiments that I have expressed in articles over the preceding…