Latest news with #JoePhaahla
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
SA moves to strengthen tobacco control
Through the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, South Africa is actively working to combat tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and hookahs which are also known as 'hubbly bubblies.' This is according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, who was delivering a keynote address to commemorate World No Tobacco Day in Midrand, Johannesburg. 'We want to make sure we regulate these upcoming products because currently they're not covered. That is, e-cigarettes and the 'hubbly bubblies.' We want to make sure they are properly regulated because currently they are everywhere,' Phaahla said on Monday. He informed the attendees that the proposed Bill seeks to implement significant changes to tobacco regulation. These changes include the introduction of plain packaging, the expansion of smoke-free zones, stricter controls on emerging tobacco products, regulation of e-cigarettes, and enhanced support for tobacco cessation programs. 'Every life lost through tobacco is preventable. We don't need it in our bodies. Nicotine doesn't add any value,' Phaahla stressed, calling for a united effort from government, civil society, and media to combat tobacco use. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease globally, responsible for over eight million deaths each year, including more than one million from second-hand smoke exposure. World No Tobacco Day is an annual event that raises awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, the practices of tobacco companies, and the efforts of the WHO to combat the tobacco epidemic. It also encourages people worldwide to assert their right to health and healthy living, while advocating for the protection of future generations. Phaahla stated that the Cessation Support Bill, also known as the Tobacco Control Bill, aims to enhance support for users trying to quit and improve their health. However, the Deputy Minister underscored the tobacco industry's aggressive attempts to undermine the legislation. He noted that some individuals sponsored by the industry, have actively opposed the Bill during public hearings. 'Of course, throughout the public hearings, the industry has been spending huge amounts of money, you know, sponsoring people to go to the public hearings. And that's how powerful this industry can be. 'They've also had their own special people who were some of the medical practitioners who have been sponsored to do this, to promote these products as a form of harm reduction, and that our Bill is ignoring these products as part of the package of harm reduction. But we already know that's not the case.' The bill is expected to proceed to Parliament, with government confident that it will pass despite industry pushback. 'We want to assure you that we value your contribution and are confident that this bill will ultimately pass in Parliament despite the efforts of the industry to mobilise even very passionate Members of Parliament …at every turn to find the loophole.' Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister has thrown his weight behind the Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo. 'We have a very strong team … led by the Chairperson of the committee, a former colleague in the previous administration, as the Deputy Minister, now chair of the committee. Dr Dhlomo is leading from the front for the team there. So, we're quite confident that we'll succeed.' – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Health Department stands by NHI education budget despite calls for reallocation
In defence of spending on NHI advertising, Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said it is as important as possible in terms of how the Department of Health assisted South Africans to get a fair amount of information. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The South African Health Department is standing firm in its commitment to promoting the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, even as voices arise, urging a reallocation of funds to address other pressing health needs. Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla has emphasised that the government's strategy surrounding NHI education is not simply a binary choice of either funding allocation or prioritisation of other health initiatives. During a budget presentation to the Health Portfolio Committee, Phaahla outlined that the current opposition to NHI is multifaceted, involving not merely legal challenges but also a broader effort to win the hearts and minds of South Africans. 'The pushback on NHI implementation is not only in courts, but is a battle of the hearts and minds of South Africans. It is important as much as possible in terms of how we assist South Africans to get a fair amount of information. It is neither this nor that,' Phaahla said. He made the statement when the department presented its budget during the meeting of the Health Portfolio Committee on Thursday. The NHI took centre stage during the meeting, with DA MP Michele Clarke noting that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi still planned to spend another R10m on NHI advertising. Clarke was of the view the funding could be used toward the treatment of HIV in the wake of the recent withdrawal of US aid funding. In its presentation, the department said there were processes under way in preparation for the NHI Fund. This included the essential equipment list that was to be finalised. 'This is focusing on primary care level as well as accreditation level to be used to accredit service providers that are to participate in NHI,' the department's head of planning unit, Koketso Sebanyoni, said. Sebanyoni also said that as part of NHI preparations, they would track the number of patients actively receiving medication. 'We hope this number can increase to 3.5 million in this financial year.' She added that work was being done on developing the integrated electronic health record system. 'We envisage we will finalise the second phase on the primary care package,' Sebanyoni said. The department said out of its R64.6 billion budget, NHI will be allocated R1.4bn. There was R2.4 billion allocated in the NHI indirect grant for health facilities revitalisation and R7.2bn for the NHI conditional grant. There was also R466m allocation for the contracting of additional health professionals. MPs wanted an update on the appointment of the NHI board and the funding mechanism for the NHI and overburdening of the country's health care system by illegal foreigners, among other things. The department was receiving comments from stakeholders on the regulations that were published in March on the proposed governance regulations of the NHI Fund.
Daily Maverick
23-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Two fires within a week at Tembisa Hospital are not linked
Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla has dismissed any links between the fire that gutted the Tembisa Hospital on Saturday and a blaze that caused additional damage on Wednesday. 'In terms of the fire which happened early today, we need to state clearly that this was not a continuation of the fire on Saturday,' Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla said at the Tembisa Hospital on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. Phaahla said the fires started in different areas of the hospital. Saturday's fire affected the emergency unit while Wednesday's was located in the outpatient section. 'What this says, then, from a lay person's observation, is that there is no direct linkage. So, whatever the forensics will find regarding what triggered the fire here, we are of the view that unless proven otherwise, what is apparent is that something else happened on the other side where the other fire started,' said Phaahla. 'The two areas are quite distinct,' he said. He said that the area had already been cordoned off after the first fire on Saturday, and the power supply had been switched off. Hospital officials said there was no CCTV footage of the areas affected by the fires and that patient records had been damaged. Phaahla said two cases had been opened for both fires, and appealed for patience from locals as the hospital underwent repairs to restore services. 'Serious damage has happened where we have lost valuable equipment, but not a single person was injured during that period,' Phaahla said. Despite Phaahla's comments, DA Gauteng shadow MEC for health Jack Bloom called for an investigation into possible arson. 'Surely, these incidents are suspicious. We need to know whether the security services are doing their job in preventing incidents like this. 'Are there tenderpreneurs who want to get the contracts for rebuilding the burnt sections? This cannot be ruled out as we even have criminal syndicates who sabotage the water supply so they can benefit by providing water tankers,' said Bloom on Wednesday. 'Any foul play at Tembisa Hospital needs to be speedily identified and the culprits apprehended before further fires occur.' Government whistle-blower Babita Deokaran was investigating an alleged R1-billion in corrupt tenders related to Tembisa Hospital when she was assassinated in 2022. The murder case is currently in court. In 2021, the Health Ombudsman found that patient Shonisani Lethole had died as a result of gross negligence at the hospital. Services interrupted Phaahla said that while the fire on Saturday had been extinguished, smoke was still affecting the pharmacy. He said the new fire had also been contained, but its smoke had spread to the clinic. He estimated that the forensics team, which had taken over the site, might be busy for two weeks before they could hand the site back to the health department. He said that thereafter, the provincial health department could get building experts to assess structural integrity and other damage in preparation for repairs. Phaahla said ambulances were being diverted from Tembisa Hospital to nearby hospitals such as Tambo Memorial Hospital and Edenvale Hospital following the fires. He said in terms of non-emergency patients, a call had been made that those who can use other hospitals should do so, and that visiting hours were still in effect for patients still in the hospital. Eighty-one patients were evacuated in the blaze on Saturday. He said the hospital management and the Gauteng government had ensured that services continued at the hospital, including access to medication. He said his department was working with the Department of Labour in terms of the occupational safety measures to ensure that staff were safe and there was access to medication from the pharmacy. Compliance The fires occurred after the hospital claimed during an Occupational Health and Safety audit presentation in March 2025 that it had improved from 72% to 79% compliance. 'But, overall, the compliance is poor,' the DA's Bloom said. 'There has been long neglect of infrastructure; this is why the risk is elevated,' Bloom said. Bloom said that according to the Gauteng Department of Health's figures, none of its 37 public hospitals were fully compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with a particular weakness in fire safety measures. More than half a dozen Gauteng hospitals have been affected by fires in recent years, including Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Steve Biko Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Carletonville Hospital. The Public Service Association (PSA) has repeatedly raised concerns over the state of Tembisa Hospital. In a statement on Tuesday, the union's Stefan Viljoen said it warned 'that the facility was on the brink of total collapse' and the fire was 'a direct consequence of the hospital management's failure to act on repeated warnings'. 'In December 2024, inspectors from the Department of Employment and Labour issued an infringement notice to the hospital, citing numerous occupational health and safety violations. Management was given until the end of February 2025 to rectify the identified hazards. To date, little has been done. 'The PSA previously highlighted alarming conditions, including cracked walls, broken taps and exposed live electrical wiring. Most concerning were the fire hazards identified in high-risk areas such as the casualty department. Earlier this year, an employee was injured after a ceiling collapsed in one of the wards, another clear indication of the urgent need for intervention.' Accountability According to Phaahla, there are ongoing investigations to establish the cause of both fires. He said the department would rely on the work of forensic experts to establish the cause of the blaze. But Bloom said there had been a complete lack of accountability for previous fires in Gauteng's hospitals. 'There has been no accountability for other fires, including the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital four years ago. My view is that the CEO should have been fired, and they haven't caught [the] suspected arsonists,' said Bloom. Phaahla said, 'We have to say most of our facilities are not fully compliant. The reason is that they are old. There is a catch-up. Incrementally, as resources become available, we will make each compliant. Many of our facilities are not compliant.'
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Olievenhoutbosch clinic hours revamped to ease patient load
Long queues and understaffing at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic may soon be things of the past as the national government has put plans in place to extend the clinic's operating hours. The aim is to resolve understaffing and long queues to help alleviate the challenges raised by the community recently. Olievenhoutbosch patients have for years complained about inadequate healthcare services, which have resulted in struggles to access to medical care. To address these issues, the government is implementing an initiative that aims to allow more patients to be assisted and reduce the strain on exhausted healthcare teams. Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Provincial Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and Tshwane MMC for Health Tshegofatso Mashabela visited the clinic on April 15 to assess the situation firsthand. Deputy Minister Dr Joe Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu undertaking an oversight visit at Olievenhoutbosch clinic to more effectively address operational and infrastructural challenges faced by the community and staff. #AsibeHealthyGP — Tshwane District Health Services (@HealthTshwane) April 15, 2025 The @HealthZA Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu conducting an oversight visit at the Olievenhoutbosch Clinic's pharmacy to assess medical capacity. Security cameras were installed after a burglary contributed to medicine shortage. #AsibeHealthyGP #TacklingG13 — Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025 Mashabela explained that the purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot programme designed to extend the clinic's operating hours in direct response to the overwhelming patient volumes in the area. 'This pilot programme signifies a significant step towards improving healthcare in the region,' she noted. She stated that a benchmarking exercise was conducted as part of the visit to explore the feasibility of implementing a 24-hour service at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic. ♦️In Pictures♦️ Breaking barriers in healthcare delivery! Visit to Olivenhoutbosch Clinic marks a significant milestone towards improving services for residents in the region.#EFFinGovernment — 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕘𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕨𝕖 (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025 ♦️In Pictures♦️ Today, the MMCof Health is with Deputy Minister of Health and the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Health Services in Gauteng, paid a visit to the Olivenhoutbosch Clinic. The purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot program designed to extend the… — 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕘𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕨𝕖 (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025 'The aim is to ensure that primary healthcare services are accessible and available round the clock, making quality healthcare a reality for the residents of Tshwane. 'By pushing the boundaries of traditional operating hours and exploring innovative solutions, health officials are demonstrating their commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the community.' The MMC added that this initiative not only aims to ease the burden on existing healthcare facilities but also represents a proactive approach towards delivering comprehensive and efficient healthcare services to all residents in the region. During the visit, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko highlighted that population growth in the area had outpaced service delivery. 'There is a high number of people coming here. The population is growing in this place, but the services, in terms of this heart of health, have not been growing with it,' she said. She mentioned that this concern aligns with Premier Panyaza Lesufi's previous suggestion that a hospital, whether regional or district, needs to be built to address these service delivery challenges. Phaahla also noted that the health department had received complaints about the unavailability of medicine at the clinic. Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says @HealthZA received a complaint about medicine unavailability at Olievenhoutbosch Clinic. He clarified the issue stems from poor communication from healthcare providers, not stock and the clinic has 97% medicine availability. #AsibeHealthyGP — Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025 He said that they initiated discussions to gather feedback on this issue. However, a subsequent report from both the metro and the province, confirmed by a representative of the clinic committee, revealed that further investigation found no evidence supporting the claims of a shortage of medical supplies. 'The report we received also states that the medicine stock at the clinic is about 97%,' he stated. Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo provided further details on the pilot programme. He told Rekord that if the proposed extended service hours budget is approved, the operating hours will be from 16:00 to 19:00 on weekdays only. 'The pilot programme is expected to run for the financial year 2025/26, and its success will depend on the review of outcomes,' said Mashigo. 'The expected outcome is improved access to primary healthcare services.' Mashigo said that various staffing models are being investigated, and the best option will be implemented pending budget approval. He confirmed that the clinic will continue to implement the appointment system currently in place while also accommodating walk-in patients to manage patient volumes and waiting times during the extended hours. 'Both appointment systems and walk-ins will be accommodated. 'The success of the pilot programme will be evaluated based on increased utilisation rates, decreased waiting times, improved health indicator outcomes, and enhanced patient experiences,' said Mashigo. He added that if the pilot programme proves successful, there are plans to make the extended hours permanent, contingent on budget availability. Ward councillor Kenneth Masha expressed optimism regarding the programme's potential impact, believing it will help ensure that many community members can receive the assistance they need. 'With the current operating hours, the nurses are now only able to assist about 400 people, so at least with the added hours, more people can get help,' he said. He estimated that at least 100 more patients could be served during the extended hours. 'The lack of sufficient healthcare facilities in the area is not a new issue and has been a concern for many years,' he said. He noted that multiple complaints regarding the clinic's inadequacies have been raised since 2014. 'Over the years, there have been serious conflicts between community members and foreign nationals who stay in the community because most of the foreign nationals would arrive early, around 03:00, to queue and take up the whole space,' he recalled. Masha shared troubling incidents from the past, where young girls would leave while it was still dark to queue, leading to some of them being attacked. 'The clinic is not adequate, and we need a bigger health facility, like a community health centre or a hospital, which would be of great assistance to the community,' he stated. As the population in Olievenhoutbosch has grown significantly, Masha insisted that a single clinic cannot cater to all those people, resulting in residents overflowing into nearby clinics. He mentioned that at some of these facilities, residents are even turned away. 'Laudium Community Health Centre and Kalafong Hospital are among some of the healthcare facilities that have welcomed residents of Olievenhoutbosch.' Masha expressed relief that residents' complaints have finally received attention, thanks to the MMC for Health's repeated visits to the clinic. 'The MMC has been to the clinic about three times this year, and she has seen the challenges that residents face.' Residents also shared their experiences and ongoing struggles. Ext 13 resident Basetsana Khumalo expressed hope for the new programme. 'I often wait hours at the clinic just to see a nurse. This extension could mean I finally get the care I need without spending half my day in the line,' she said. She acknowledged the difficulties many in her community face, particularly during peak hours. 'A lot of people leave the clinic without receiving help after waiting for long hours.' Another resident, Khwezi Ngcobo, shared that she often has to take time off work just to get to the clinic early. 'With more hours, I hope I can manage my health without sacrificing my job.' Ngcobo mentioned past incidents where overcrowding led to delays in care, causing significant health issues for herself and her neighbours. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
