Zinhle Mapumulo

Zinhle Mapumulo

South Africa's healthcare system is set to undergo a major overhaul following the launch on Friday of the ministerial advisory committee for quality, safety and standards.

The aim of the committee is to improve the quality of healthcare in the country in line with the needs of patients.

Health Minister Barbara Hogan, pictured, introduced the committee to the public members of the interim advisory committee at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, pending the gazetting of her intentions in the Government Gazette.

Department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe explained that the committee would be broadly responsible for providing the health minister with advise on policies and best practices for quality and safety.

"The committee will also be responsible for playing an advocacy role in relation to the national agenda for quality," he said.

The committee will be constituted into three sub-committees. It will focus on three key areas - standards, norms and guidelines, infection prevention and control and patient safety and quality improvement.

Hadebe said: "Members of the committee and subcommittees are appointed in terms of their recognised knowledge and experience in the relevant area drawn among academics and those working in the public and private sectors."