Published: 04/05/2023

From the President’s desk

The 25th Annual National Family Practitioners Congress

18-19 August 2023 – “Integrating Primary Care – creating a more connected health and care system”

Published: 02/03/2023

From the President’s desk

As I think of my contribution to the SAAFP newsletter, I am conscious that my letter “From The President’s Desk” was just published in the South African Family Practice Journal. In my short letter, I outline eight areas that we focusing on in 2023:

1. Advocating for family physicians in the public sector with national and provincial governments.
2. Advocating for family physicians in the private sector and through our Private Sector Forum
3. Developing skills in point of care ultrasound. We are launching a short course in collaboration with the Global Ultrasound Institute and have applied for a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement POCUS in maternal care.
4. Publication and dissemination of the 4^th edition of the South African Family Practice Manual – more below
5. Organising the National Family Practitioners Conference 17-19 August at the Wanderers in Johannesburg
6. Participating in the World Organization of Family Doctor’s global conference in Sydney, Australia 26-29 October.
7. Developing workplace-based training and assessment via training and accreditation of clinical trainers as well as implementation of an e-portfolio.
8. Electing a new National Council – please nominate people to be elected into Council.

Notice of election for the National Council for 2023-2026

Notice of election for the National Council for 2023-2026

Published: 21/10/2022

Advocating for our national position paper with the Department of Health

The SA Family Practice Journal recently published our new national position paper on family medicine. Since then, our national council considered how to disseminate it and engage with policymakers on our recommendations. As a result, we have met with the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to discuss the position paper. Dr Tasleem Ras and Dr Jenny Nash, two of our directors, were invited to join the National District Health Services Technical Working Group. The group are looking at how to bring policy and strategy on the district health services up to date. We have also had interactions with Ms Jeanette Hunter who is responsible for health service management and Dr Nicholas Crisp who is responsible for NHI in the national department. In addition, we have engaged with Dr Kenny Jacobs the Chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. We will keep you posted on how these multiple initiatives develop over time.

Published: 21/10/2022

South African Family Practice Manual [Latest edition due February 2023]

A practical, ‘how to’ guide of medical procedures conducted by family physicians
• Covers basic principles, equipment required and detailed explanation of medical procedures
• Simple, clear line drawings outline important skills
• Comprehensive and up-to-date coverage

Print ISBN: 978-0-627-03979-9

eBook ISBN: 978-0-627-039805

Publication date:  February 2023

Published: 21/10/2022

Family physicians can do a lot to save SA’s ailing public health system

Given the many benefits of including family physicians in primary healthcare and district hospital teams, it is surprising that most provinces have so far missed the opportunity to strengthen their services in this way.

Published: 10/03/2022

We would like to provide a progress update regarding our private sector initiative to improve recognition and reimbursement for Family Medicine as a specialist discipline.

The SA Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFP) has sent out email communications and surveys to our members to establish your needs and expectations regarding this topic.

Published: 17/12/2021

From the President’s desk

World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA): Together We Own The Future

 The 23rd World Conference of Family Doctors went ahead virtually on 22-27th November, instead of in Abu Dhabi as originally intended. The SAAFPs made our presentation to host the next conference in 2025, but unfortunately were not successful, and the conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Nevertheless, a number of our members were honoured or recognised during the conference:

Published: 13/12/2021

5 November 2021
The South African Paediatric Association (SAPA) remains committed to promoting the wellbeing of all children and their mothers.

Background
It has been brought to the attention of SAPA that some pregnant and breastfeeding women are being advised by public and private sector healthcare workers, including general practitioners, obstetricians and paediatricians to decline or delay COVID-19 vaccination.
The National Department of Health has issued a circular recommending all pregnant and breastfeeding women be offered the vaccination1 and SAPA supports these recommendations.

Please click here to view the full statement