Boards ensure public hospitals remain accountable and transparent
The induction ceremony marked an important milestone in strengthening community representation in hospital governance. The nomination process received overwhelming interest, with over 1 500 applications submitted from professionals and community leaders eager to contribute their skills and time. Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Nkomo-Ralehoko praised the public's commitment. 'The overwhelming number of applications shows that our people are ready to partner with us to improve healthcare.
It is a powerful sign of active citizenship and gives us hope for the future, especially as we march towards implementing the National Health Insurance,'
she said. She also reminded the new members of their important mandate, stating, 'Premier Lesufi has been clear that poor service at hospitals and clinics is one of Gauteng's 13 problems. From today, this problem becomes your problem too. You are our partners in restoring dignity, trust, and excellence in our facilities.'
Newly appointed board member Yamkela Rini, who serves on the board of Tara H. Moross Hospital, expressed his excitement to serve.
'Our role is not for financial benefit, but to ensure good governance, proper service delivery, and high standards of care within our hospitals. One of the key issues raised was the growing number of litigations.
We want to help the Department of Health and hospital management address this through improved quality, better services, and ensuring proper infrastructure and resources are in place across our healthcare facilities.'
The new boards will play a key role in supporting hospital management, improving governance, and ensuring that services remain patient-centred and community focused, thus affirming the Gauteng Department of Health's commitment to transforming healthcare and rebuilding public trust. The new term commenced on July 1 and runs until March 2028. Overall, 222 board members are serving in various facilities. With strong community representation and renewed energy, the new hospital boards are expected to help drive improvements in service delivery and strengthen the province's public healthcare system for all.
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