Chapter 2 - P rogramme 1 - Department of Defence

Overview
| Department of Defence |
CHAPTER 7
Programme 5: Military Health Support
The 2007/08 financial year was a watershed year
for the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) and
the SANDF in showing their direct support to the
people of South Africa. The public sector strike
that affected essential hospital services saw the
rapid and effective reaction of the SANDF. This
report reflects on the performance of the SAMHS
during the past year, in which internal and external
deployments as well as new key initiatives were
taken towards effecting a world-class military health
service, professionalism and governance.
During the financial year, the SAMHS supported
all external and internal deployments. The RSA
experienced the impact of labour action in the
public health sector over the period 2 to 28 June
2007. The SAMHS was appointed as the lead service
for Operation BATA to ensure the continuation of
essential health services during the labour action.
This saw the SANDF deploy its members within 24
hours upon receiving the order from Government
and the Department of Health. At the height of the
operation, 2 946 SAMHS members were deployed,
supported by 1 909 SA Army, 179 SA Air Force
and 60 SA Navy members. Thus, altogether 5 094
SANDF members were deployed to support the
Department of Health at 89 installations across
the country. The SANDF “One Force” concept
was fully implemented, as the members employed
included Reserves.
The SAMHS fulfilled its international obligations
through a set of activities ranging from participation
in defence committees to international visits, both to
and from abroad. The quality of SAMHS inputs was
enhanced through the new initiative to manage this
environment with dedicated foreign desks. These
desks contributed to continuity and an increase in
the quality of the information available.
As a common enemy, infectious diseases were an
area of specific focus during the year. The initiative
to host the first Defence HIV and AIDS Conference
in the SADC region was concluded successfully
in November 2007. Most SADC countries were
in attendance. On the last day of the conference,
an SADC military workshop was held and various
resolutions were considered for utilisation towards
the development of a joint comprehensive strategy
for HIV and AIDS in the SADC region. The
Surgeon-General and his team were an integral
part of the consultative process adopted in the
development and official launch of the National
Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
A Directorate HIV and AIDS was established in the
Office of the Surgeon-General to provide policy
guidelines on HIV and AIDS to all commanders.
The different managerial areas in the SAMHS
were guided by the updated Surgeon-General’s
Intent for the financial year. This resulted in a
reviewed approach to the recruitment and training
of healthcare practitioners, as well as a new drive
to increase the benefits to military healthcare
professionals. In addition, results were also achieved
in the following:
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The implementation of the new dispensation
for the nursing profession;
An increase in training capabilities;
The upgrading of different SAMHS healthcare
facilities such as the military hospitals;
The review of management control mechanisms
across the different staff compartments; and
The implementation of change initiatives to
renew the SAMHS as an organisation that is
able to answer the needs of the future.
A feasibility study to centralise health services and
provide a one-stop health service to the SANDF
was undertaken in Tempe Military Base area in
Bloemfontein. This initiative resulted in positive
outcomes on service delivery and appreciations
would be extended to other metropolitan areas.
The SAMHS has allocated funds to phase in a new
ambulance fleet over a period of three years. The
procurement process of the first ambulances was
started and delivery is expected in the first quarter of
FY 2008/09. The SAMHS has, through the Strategic
Capital Acquisition Master Plan, started with a
renewal process of all main medical equipment.
Identified new equipment has been procured as part
of the first phase.
143 Annual Report FY 2007 - 2008
| Chapter 7 - Programme 5: Military Health Support |