Lesson learnt in the implementation of PHC - Health Systems Trust

Clinic Supervision in the Sekhukhune District,
Limpopo and Mpumalanga
2 Support
Systems
The use of the Clinic Supervision Manual assisted in identifying longstanding problems that needed
attention. It helped the clinic staff to critically look into their daily practice and identify challenges
affecting quality of care. It assisted them in developing an action plan to resolve the issues without
external support and also to refer those problems they could not deal with, to the appropriate people.
Some of the problems have been addressed. For example, the structurally unsound clinic was included
into the following year’s capital budget and a new one was built. Other problems such as support
structures for the supervision of clinics have not been addressed.
LESSONS LEARNT
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
❖
Clinic supervision can be successful where there is a structure in place to
conduct supervision like in Makhudu Thamaga, but fails where no
supervisory structures exist.
The support of management at district and sub-district level is crucial for
supervision to be effective and the process should be driven locally.
It is not worth conducting training where there are inadequate human
resources and no support systems in place to implement what was learnt.
When conducting clinic supervision, it is important to consider each clinic
as being unique. The problems experienced vary from one clinic to the
next.
The tools in the clinic supervision manual can identify problems that can
be addressed at clinic, sub-district, district and provincial levels.
Clinic managers can use these tools to manage the clinic on a daily basis.
It would enhance problem solving and address day-to-day challenges.
Recommendation
The Clinic Supervision Manual is a structured way of assessing the support
required by clinics. All clinics should have a monthly structured supervision
visit with a written report.
17