During his 2022 State of the Province Address (Sopa) in Upington, Premier Saul said the Department of Health has already approved the justification for a proposed business project involving an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatching system.

Saul told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) and residents that the project scoping is underway, with implementation starting in the next few months.

His statement comes after the Public Protector (PP), Busisiwe Mkhwebane, said the inefficiency of the EMS, with its ambulances grounded by a lack of fuel, was identified as another factor paralysing the local public healthcare system in the province.

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“We have expanded connectivity to 123 of the 159 primary healthcare facilities within the province. Connectivity via V-satellite links has enabled the Department of Health to provide the necessary connectivity to these facilities.

The department is undertaking a process of strengthening district health services in the Northern Cape by progressively capacitating the Community Health Centre (CHC) at the Galeshewe Day Hospital into a fully-fledged district hospital. Recently, the government unveiled the upgrades of the casualty ward which will enable for steady progress towards providing twenty-four-hour access and create a revamped state-of-the-art district hospital,” he adds.

Saul added that, as part of modernising the provincial public health system, a biometric patient management system has also been installed and will be rolled out at all health facilities.

The system will shorten waiting times, and improve patient management across the entire health system by linking all facilities vertically and horizontally. This modernisation of the health system will ensure patient-centred health care,” Saul further added.

In his previous speeches, Premier Saul had announced that his government was working in earnest to look at ways to improve the management of health facilities as a critical aspect of moving the health system forward.

He said the administration had articulated a vision of a modern, growing, and successful province.

"At the heartbeat of this is the revitalisation of our primary healthcare system by improving the quality of health services that we provide to our people.

"I am a firm believer that most of you are not here by choice or circumstance. Most - if not all of you - did not choose to become doctors and nurses.

I believe that the health profession chose you to be the servants of the people. Whilst it will be challenging, I can assure you it will be worth the time, sacrifice, and commitment you pour into your work over the next two years," Saul added.

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