President Ramaphosa to Oversee Signing of Second Presidential Health Compact

The Presidential Health Compact is designed to foster cooperation among government, business, labor, civil society, health professionals, and other stakeholders.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will preside over the signing of the second Presidential Health Compact on Thursday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This significant event marks the continuation of an initiative that began in 2019, aimed at improving health outcomes across South Africa through a collaborative framework involving various key sectors.

The Presidential Health Compact is designed to foster cooperation among government, business, labor, civil society, health professionals, and other stakeholders. It assigns specific roles and responsibilities to these groups to strengthen health systems and prepare for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).

The signing of this second compact follows the 2023 Presidential Health Summit, which built on the foundation laid by the inaugural summit in 2018. The summit gathered a wide range of stakeholders to address the challenges facing South Africa's national health system and to develop sustainable, inclusive solutions.

The compact focuses on 10 key pillars:

Development of human resources for health.

Improving access to medicine, vaccines, and health products.

Upgrading infrastructure.

Engaging the private sector.

Enhancing the quality of healthcare.

Improving financial management in the public health sector.

Strengthening governance and leadership.

Encouraging community engagement.

Advancing information systems.

Preparing for pandemics.

Key signatories to the compact include:

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Minister of Health

Minister of Science and Innovation

Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA)

South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

South African Medical Association Trade Union

Democratic Nurses of South Africa

Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

Campaigning for Cancer - Patient User Groups

South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC)

National Unitary Professional Association for African Traditional Health Practitioners of South Africa (NUPAATHPSA)

Traditional Knowledge Systems and Allied Health

The signing ceremony will take place at 12:30 pm in the Courtyard, West Wing, Union Buildings, Pretoria. This compact represents a crucial step in advancing South Africa's healthcare system, ensuring that it is more inclusive, resilient, and prepared to meet the needs of all citizens.