BuaNews (Tshwane)
Siboniso Ntuli
21 August 2008
eThekwini — The Department of Health and the South African Health Military Services (SAHMS) have partnered to share resources and ensure more people have access to health services.
The Department of Health and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing military nurses to open their doors to civilians and transfer their patients to state hospitals.
Military Hospitals were previously restricted to current and former members of the SANDF.
Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said the signing of the agreement at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Academic Hospital on Thursday had taken the department a step further in realising the goal of providing quality healthcare for all.
"The signing of the MoU between the departments represents the desire and determination in all of us to tackle and resolve the common challenges facing us," said Ms Tshabalala-Msimang.
According to the department, the collaboration would allow the Military health workers greater access not only to state hospital facilities, but ambulance services too, enabling them to transport patients to public health facilities for services that their own hospitals do not offer.
The Military Hospitals would be able to admit civilian patients too.
Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota said members of the SANDF would have greater access healthcare as a result of the MoU.
He said it would also benefit retired members because they can now visit their nearest public hospital instead of travelling distance to the Military Hospital for treatment.
The delivery of public healthcare in the country was hampered by limited physical infrastructure, Ms Tshabalala-Msimang said, adding that the MoU would alleviate the challenge.
The KwaZulu-Natal provincial Health Department also entered into similar collaboration with the SAHMS.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang said it is at provincial and local levels where the delivery of health services takes place and they therefore have to spare no effect in strengthening their capacity at [all] level.
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