The newly appointed Health Department Director General Sandile Buthelezi will take the reins from 1 June 2020.
Buthelezi, whose appointment was announced a fortnight ago, will take office at a critical time with the country and the world at large in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His first day in office will coincide with the country’s move to alert level 3 of lockdown.
“I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Buthelezi and believe that he is certainly up to the task,” said Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, upon welcoming Buthelezi.
A medical doctor, Buthelezi brings a wealth of experience having worked in the implementation and rolling out of government’s strategy to fight HIV and TB in our country. He has also worked with international organisations that have over the years given support to South Africa in its health programmes.
Dr Buthelezi, also carries direct knowledge of challenges faced by public health facilities, having worked as a superintendent of hospitals at a young age.
While welcoming Buthelezi, the Health Minister expressed appreciation to the Acting Director General, Dr Anban Pillay who has been acting since the departure of the former DG.
“We also wish to bid farewell to Dr Yogan Pillay, the DDG for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases prevention, treatment and rehabilitation who is going into early retirement after working for the national Department of Health for 23 years,” said the Minister.
Under Pillay’s leadership South Africa’s HIV treatment programme grew to become the largest in the world, new vaccines were introduced as part of the expanded programme on immunisation and infant, under five and maternal mortality rates have declined significantly.
In December 2019, Dr Pillay requested to take early retirement in order to join the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) as Country Director for South Africa and senior advisor on Universal Health Coverage for CHAI globally. CHAI began working with the South African government in 2003 and has operated in the country since 2008.
South Africa anchors many global pricing deals that reduce the costs of essential health products and allows other countries to save on the same products.
CHAI has over the years been one of the organisations that have supported the department to improve access to lifesaving treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria as well as maternal and neonatal health, sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases including cancer as well as health financing. “We wish Dr Yogan Pillay well in his future endeavours,” said the Minister.
Source Parliamentary Monitoring Group
QUESTION – 1 : Hepatitis B vaccination?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 AUGUST 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 10)
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether his department has approved a programme of vaccinating children against Hepatitis B at birth and not at six weeks or later in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission; if not, why not; if so, what (a) success was being achieved and (b) what are the further relevant details?
QUESTION 2: relationship between nutrition, obesity, diabetes and other NCDs?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 JULY 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 06)
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether his department has taken any steps to determine on an ongoing basis the relationship of good nutrition and how obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases are proliferating and burdening the health system; if not, why not; if so, what steps does he intend to take to encourage the Government to review its policy so as to subsidise essential nutrients and tax those that are proven to be causing health problems?
QUESTION 3: diabetes ? stock outs? ? public awareness? ? screening?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 JULY 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 05)
Mr M H Redelinghuys (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether any health facilities have experienced shortages of medicines or supplies to treat diabetes; if so, (a) which facilities have experienced shortages and (b) what has his department done to address the shortages;
(2) whether his department has campaigns in place to raise awareness of diabetes; if so, please provide the details (a) for the (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-2012, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(3) whether his department has been conducting public testing to raise awareness of diabetes; if so, please provide the details (a) in the (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-2012 (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(4) whether his department has any long-term programmes in place to tackle the rising incidences of diabetes; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Please download the full question and answer document here
Source Parliamentary Monitoring Group
QUESTION – 1 : Hepatitis B vaccination?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 AUGUST 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 10)
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether his department has approved a programme of vaccinating children against Hepatitis B at birth and not at six weeks or later in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission; if not, why not; if so, what (a) success was being achieved and (b) what are the further relevant details?
QUESTION 2: relationship between nutrition, obesity, diabetes and other NCDs?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 JULY 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 06)
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
Whether his department has taken any steps to determine on an ongoing basis the relationship of good nutrition and how obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases are proliferating and burdening the health system; if not, why not; if so, what steps does he intend to take to encourage the Government to review its policy so as to subsidise essential nutrients and tax those that are proven to be causing health problems?
QUESTION 3: diabetes ? stock outs? ? public awareness? ? screening?
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 JULY 2014 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 05)
Mr M H Redelinghuys (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether any health facilities have experienced shortages of medicines or supplies to treat diabetes; if so, (a) which facilities have experienced shortages and (b) what has his department done to address the shortages;
(2) whether his department has campaigns in place to raise awareness of diabetes; if so, please provide the details (a) for the (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-2012, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(3) whether his department has been conducting public testing to raise awareness of diabetes; if so, please provide the details (a) in the (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-2012 (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(4) whether his department has any long-term programmes in place to tackle the rising incidences of diabetes; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Please download the full question and answer document here
