Absa joins forces with government to improve health care facilities

Absa is partnering with both public and private health care decision makers in a bid to accelerate changes in the public health care system. The second annual health Workshop confirms Absa’s continued commitment to improve service provision and enhance service quality in the health care system.

This years’ workshop takes place on Wednesday 13 October at Fairway Hotel, with the theme ‘Private sector collaboration in the public health care’.

Discussions will focus on infrastructure planning processes as a critical aspect that senior health officials need to take into account when planning for service delivery. Key health officials from both public and private sector will investigate feasible mechanisms to improve the delivery of health care services to the broader South African community.

The workshop is aimed at developing sustainable partnerships between Absa, the private healthcare services providers and government.

“Challenges of proper long term planning processes and the conversion of public needs into physical infrastructure will be at the centre of this year’s discussion. Absa’s involvement demonstrates our commitment to leverage partnerships and collaborate with the public sector to address the challenges that government is facing in the healthcare system,” says Shiva Makotoko, Head: Absa Public Sector Banking.

Turning to the private sector can, when appropriately structured and implemented, help address matters such as infrastructure, technology, clinical services and hospital management in the public health care system. The workshop will cover the following topics:

* Understanding the structure and funding of Health Care facilities in South Africa, to be presented by the National Treasury.
* Capital Investment Planning: Lessons from Europe will be delivered by Steve Wright, from the European Centre for Health Assets and Architecture.
* Health Care Enterprise Asset Management, by Patrick Dominy from ECH Holdings.
* Facility Management, presentation will focus on alternatives in the execution of FM strategies and will be presented by Louis Volschenk from Pragma
* PPP Procurement Models as an Asset Management Strategy, discussion will focus on current South African and international alternative procurement models, to be presented by André Kruger from Absa Public sector.

“The highlight of our discussions will include the internationally renowned speaker, Steve Wright, Executive Director of the European Centre for Health Assets and Architecture. He will present research findings from a relevant European study that was done over recent years, says Makotoko.

A major challenge in the public health care systems, particularly in the hospital sector pertains to proper long term planning processes and the allocation of resources. Research locally and internationally highlights these critical planning aspects that if correctly executed; it will lead to a significant improvement in especially procurement decisions.

“As the government turns to the private sector to help upgrade public health infrastructure and facilities, Absa will continue to contribute as a key stakeholder in the public sector for a better South African health care system for future generations,” concludes Makotoko.

This article was originally posted on Sustainable Development Africa Platform