Local radiology service launched

In 2018, the Mpumalanga Department of Health and WITS Faculty of Health Sciences signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to a progressive partnership for improved health services. One of the clinical priorities within this MOU is the provision of Radiology Services in Mpumalanga. In addition, this partnership seeks to support health systems development, the recruitment and development of health professionals, capacity building programmes, creating opportunities for the sharing of resources, promoting innovation, excellence and exchange of knowledge in health service delivery and creating the opportunity to develop multi-disciplinary Clinical Centres of Excellence.

The Mpumalanga Department of Health, through this partnership with WITS, has embarked on a partnership aimed at providing Radiology Services to two Tertiary hospitals (Rob Ferreira Hospital and Witbank Hospital) and two Regional hospitals (Ermelo Hospital and Themba Hospital) in the province. The announcement was graced with the presence of theExecutive Mayor, Cllr. Mkhaliphi, various MMC’s and councillors, the Head of the Department of Health, Dr S. Mohangi, Prof. Daynia Ballot from WITS University (representing the Dean: Prof. Martin Veller), Prof. Simon Nemutandani, Chairperson of the Premier’s Advisory Committee, Prof. Wezile Chitha, Assistant Dean at WITS University, the WITS University Team, Gert Sibande District Management, Departmental senior managers and staff, CEO and hospital staff, stakeholders and organized labor unions, amongst others. The launch of this radiology services project marks another milestone in this partnership, along with the oncology services at Rob Ferreira Hospital. The main objective of this radiology initiative is to provide a 24-hour radiology service to the four hospitals, in line with the regional hospital services package, and tertiary hospital services package.

To replace the historical arrangement of sending patient records for reporting by radiologists outside the hospitals, we have introduced internal capacity for radiological reporting within the four hospitals. The four hospitals are linked, and can access reports remotely. Working together in partnership with WITS University, the department will drive the change that people need in terms of specialized service through continual learning, creative thinking and a collective desire to positively impact the lives of every person accessing public health facilities. The specialized services in Mpumalanga will minimize the province’s dependency on Gauteng province, as this further retards the province’s ability to carry its mandate to provide comprehensive services to the people of Mpumalanga.

The initiative will also reduce referrals to Steve Biko Hospital, and will offer relief to very sick patients who have to travel extensively to access specialized services. The department stated that solutions they are planning, working on and implementing, are those that must address health in its totality. In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition states that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being, and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity.”