The South African Medical Association (SAMA) welcomes the appointment of Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi as the new MEC for Health in Gauteng, and that it will provide any support it can to make her tenure successful.
Dr Mokgethi was announced as the new MEC after a provincial cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday by Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
“We will, naturally, give all the support we can to the new MEC, but the road ahead is challenging. There are many issues with public health institutions in the province, and the MEC will have to tread a rocky path to ensure systems are improved to provide quality care to patients,” says Dr Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of SAMA.
Dr Coetzee says the announcement by the Premier that a team of administrators would also be appointed to assist the Health Department is also good news.
“Health is a vital portfolio in any government be it national or provincial and the appointment of this team is acknowledgement by the Premier of its importance.
We are keen to see improvements in all health sectors across the country and the announcements by Premier Makhura are timely, important, and welcomed,” concludes Dr Coetzee.
