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.