The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will this week launch two critical cancer policies namely, Cervical and Breast Cancer policies aimed at addressing high mortality caused by these cancers, management of the condition as well as improve the quality of life of women in South Africa.
Breast and Cervical cancers have been identified amongst the leading cause of deaths among South African women, especially women aged 30 years and older.
While the Cervical cancer prevention and control policy will assist to prevent the disease by promoting healthy lifestyle and provide Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, the Breast cancer control policy will focus on breast cancer awareness, early detection, treatment and care. The implementation of both policies will provide clinical support for women, who are both at risk of developing the disease later in life and currently undergoing treatment to survive and live healthy lives.
The Department of Health is working on a 10-year plan to equip hospitals with the necessary facilities to care and support patients with cancer in an effort to address the Hospital Service Equity and accessibility for women.
The Cervical Cancer prevention and control Policy will enable the introduction of new screening technique called liquid-based cytology which is an improvement from papsmear technique and is more comfortable and produce reliable results.
The Breast cancer control policy will allow women who are diagnosed early to have access to treatment such as Trutusumab which will prolong life if treatment is completed and minimise the recurrence of the disease women.
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South African National Department of Health
The Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will this week launch two critical cancer policies namely, Cervical and Breast Cancer policies aimed at addressing high mortality caused by these cancers, management of the condition as well as improve the quality of life of women in South Africa.
Breast and Cervical cancers have been identified amongst the leading cause of deaths among South African women, especially women aged 30 years and older.
While the Cervical cancer prevention and control policy will assist to prevent the disease by promoting healthy lifestyle and provide Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, the Breast cancer control policy will focus on breast cancer awareness, early detection, treatment and care. The implementation of both policies will provide clinical support for women, who are both at risk of developing the disease later in life and currently undergoing treatment to survive and live healthy lives.
The Department of Health is working on a 10-year plan to equip hospitals with the necessary facilities to care and support patients with cancer in an effort to address the Hospital Service Equity and accessibility for women.
The Cervical Cancer prevention and control Policy will enable the introduction of new screening technique called liquid-based cytology which is an improvement from papsmear technique and is more comfortable and produce reliable results.
The Breast cancer control policy will allow women who are diagnosed early to have access to treatment such as Trutusumab which will prolong life if treatment is completed and minimise the recurrence of the disease women.
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South African National Department of Health
Numbers don’t lie, especially if you take a look at the place of NCDs in the draft health budget. The words about NCDs imply commitment to solving a huge health problem. That is superficial though when it comes to NCDs. There a heaps of great sounding words (policies and plans) but a clear lack of money. Especially for screening and treatment. Words, even printed ones, are cheap. Little has changed:
Whilst the Minister in the preamble of the Annual Performance Plan highlights importance of tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) there doesn’t appear to be any dramatic shift in budget allocation over the Medium Term. Can the department provide reasons for this?
Issues for consideration Parliament Research Unit. Vote15: Health Budget 2014/15 p.6
Health is allocated less than 5% of the proposed national budget (Figure 1). Defense get more yet SA loses more people to NCDs each day than in armed conflicts. Where are our national priorities?
Figure 1:
Looking at the details of the health budget
The smallest by far is Programme 4 for Primary Health Care (PHC) services (R 225 -million)
Most People Living With NCDs get care at primary health care (PHC) clinics and this appears to be the reasoning why NCDs are placed within Prog 4 . People living with HIV/AIDS
Our information comes from the draft Annual Performance Plan (APP) and its accompanying budget. – see pages 61-63. Click here to download the draft APP 2015/2016-2017/8
Fast facts stacking up Programme 4 vs other NDoH Programmes 2015/16
Smallest programme
budget by far |
See Figure 2 |
| 1st place people costs |
Programme 4 cost of PEOPLE EMPLOYED R186.2 million = ↓ money available for implementation |
2nd largest # people
employed |
458 by only 10 people short of no 1 placed Programme 1 (p. 27) |
| Only programme to increase personnel costs |
Leaving less to spend on implementing programmes/ plans |
3 NCDs issues related to HIV/AIDS and Maternal Child health appear in Prog 3 budget (cancer cervix, breast cancer policy, immunizations.) Cancer of the prostate does not warrant a mention in the APP.
The key to the APP is words not allocation of funds. Again NCDs screening and treatment is left high and dry.
Fast facts about NCDs Prog 4 budget
Where is the money for implementation of the NCDs plan in this budget?
| 89.37% for people working on projects – personnel, contractors and consultants |
0 for screening of target of 8 million people for high BP and blood glucose OR
NCDs Commission/ Health Commission (more next week on this) |
1.3 % NGOs or non-profits (< R 3-million) > 50% goes to 2 of 6 NGOs
National Council Against Smoking & SA National Council for the Blind. |
NCDs prevention and treatment cross cuts all Programmes especially at the PHC level. So we need to look at inside other programmes. However, without exception there is no separate financial allocation for stated NCDs targets like for example breast cancer policy development and cancer of the cervix screening in Programme 3 (HIV/AIDS & TB.) Innovations like “ideal clinics” which are supposed to include NCDs take place without consulting NCDs civil society organisations.
Examples from Programme 2: NHI
- Drug procurement and stock out management (all drugs including ARVs)
- National Cancer Registry (words no money)
Programme 3: HIV/AIDS & TB
- Cervical cancer screening
- Breast cancer policy (more words no money)
- Vaccinations against hepatitis & human papilloma virus
- Obesity policy (more words no money)
Watchdogs must bark. An NCDs advocacy series. This is the first in a series on NCDs in policy documents.
The National Department of Health (NDoH) in conjunction with the WHO are pleading to local companies to pledge toward the fight against Ebola.
To date in West Africa Ebola has claimed the lives of close to 2,500 people. Sierra Leone is the hardest hit country with infection rates rising faster than any other place. The infection rate has risen 21% in the last month. Of particular concern is rate of infection among healthcare workers is primarily due to a lack of formal training on how to deal with a highly infectious disease like Ebola.
The NDoH is aiming to set up a 40 bed mobile hospital in Sierra Leone with fully trained staff to provide treatment and diagnoses. The NDoH is also be sending healthcare workers into the more remote areas with small scooters and motorbikes. These healthcare workers are to educate and train the people of Sierra Leone while serving as disease tracers to cut the rate of infection. All the healthcare workers sent to Liberia will be volunteers who have had experience in similar conditions.
South Africa will also aid Guinea and Liberia with laboratories, equipment, and consumables. This is the particular plea to South Africa.
Government cannot do this alone and together with WHO are appealing to the South Africans and the private sector for help. This 9 month mission will cost in excess of R120 million.
Donation can be made in any form time, money, services, or equipment. You will find a full list of what is needed below and the costing of the mission.
