The new provincial head of health’s first assignment is to improve services for patients and tackle the frustrations of health workers. The recently appointed Gauteng Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Health Dr Bandile Masuku has a mammoth task ahead of him as he plans to win back the confidence of the province’s residents and the department’s entire staff complement.
Masuku, along with the rest of the province’s executive team, were sworn in Parktown on Thursday. Gauteng has the largest health system among all provinces which services the highest number of people. Masuku told Health-e News that improving the experience of patients at public health facilities is his top priority. “[Patient experience] relates to waiting times in terms of [how long] you queue before you’re seen by a doctor, waiting to get medicine and treatment, and also in terms of waiting for surgical procedures.”….more