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The Eastern Cape Health Department said it was “pulling out all the stops” to improve its ability to provide quality health services to the more than 6.7 million people who use public health facilities.
The Department was in the spotlight in recent weeks amid reports of the removal of HOD, Dr Rolene Wagner, who has been seconded to a “Crack Team” appointed by the Premier Oscar Mabuyane to lead the province’s development strategy.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Eastern Cape Health Department said it “is committed to filling vacancies within the available budget”, including filling leadership positions.
Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, said this will bring stability and ensure there’s accountability.
“Over the past year, the department spent over R13-million on new appointments which include doctors, nurses, hospital CEOs and top managers”.
“The department is also focusing on dealing decisively with medico legal claims that have continued to threaten the provision of health services in the province,” he said.
Kupelo said the recent appointment of two directors was done to improve the capacity of its legal services to deal with medico-legal claims, which will be their area of focus.
“Four regional hubs have been established to assist the highly litigated hospitals and these hubs will be managed by senior legal practitioners,” he said.
The Provincial Health Department said other appointments included the appointment of a CEO at Fort England Hospital in Makhanda, the appointment of a Deputy Director General in Bhisho, as well as a principal for the Lilitha College.
The Department has also reassigned senior management to different positions of responsibility as part of strengthening leadership and improving service delivery.
Kupelo said a number of hospital CEOs are expected to assume duties on the 1st of November and these are at Tower Psychiatric Hospital in Fort Beaufort, Settlers Hospital in Makhanda and the Humansdorp Hospital.
“More appointments are expected to be made within this financial year,” Kupelo said.
