Thank you, Deputy Speaker, I was informed that the question was withdrawn, so we are on question 65 as you have guided. The reply to hon Gwarube is as follows: during January 2018 to December 2018, the Office of Health Standards and Compliance conducted inspections based on the national core standards. The total of 699 facilities was inspected, comprising 577 clinics, 44 community health centres and 78 hospitals. Again 350 facilities were compliant.
For the financial year April 2018-19, the Office of Health Standard Compliance inspected a total of 730 health facilities based on national core standards. Of this, 631 were clinics, 49 were community health centres, and 50 were hospitals and 379 were compliant.
The Department of Health has also developed a National Quality Improvement Plan to address the findings of the Office of Health Standards Compliance and to ensure facilities meets standards of quality. The requirements outlined in the Quality Improvement Plan to ensure full compliance, include amongst others: improvement of infrastructures, strengthened management skills, patient care management, improve human resources, and strengthened information management. A total of R300 million has been budgeted to improve quality over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period. This is over and above allocations of infrastructure, human resources, and building of health information system.
The quality health system requires that these aspects are adequately addressed. The quality improvement planning makes
provision for multidisciplinary teams. We are in the process of creating quality learning centres to build capacity across all levels of the whole country. This initiative will be created over the next 18 months period.
The quality health service requires that medicine, diagnostic services, blood services, and medical equipment are available when required and this depend on effective supply chain management. Adequate Budget must be available. This must be effectively managed and therefore strengthening public financial management is a priority.
As outlined in the health compact joint initiative between national department of health and industry is envisaged to improve supply chain skills. Steps will be taken to develop the escalation protocols to address shortages of medicines, consumables, medical equipments, as well an early warning stock shortage management system.
The upscaling of central chronic medicine, dispensing, and distribution already successful implemented in some of the
provinces will assist us in ensuring that patients receive the necessary medicine on time. These initiatives will all address a common complaint of long waiting times and cues by the people attending the state facilities. Thank you.