SA, France sign health deal
Johannah Thakadu
4 December 2003
South Africa and France have signed an agreement that will see the twinning of five hospitals from each of the two countries.
The deal will also see South Africa's health professionals receive extensive training on hospital management.
The deal, for which the French have set aside R4.8 million over the next three years, was signed between Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and French Ambassador to SA Jean Felix-Paganon in Pretoria yesterday.
The main objective of the project is to provide assistance in the training of hospital managers by means of establishing both exchange and twinning programmes between South African and French public hospitals.
The signing comes two weeks after President Thabo Mbeki's state visit to France, where various issues of cooperation were discussed with French President Jacques Chirac.
"Our choice to partner with France, in this instance, stems from the acknowledged excellence of that
country's public hospital management system," said Tshabalala-Msimang.
She added that France's health system was comparable to that of South Africa in many respects, as both had large and small public hospital facilities that were complementary and integrated within national network hospitals.
The minister also acknowledged that the French public hospital system was more developed and experienced, which was advantageous for South Africa.
"But we also realise that South Africa's particular public hospital management approaches offer our partners special insights into enriching public hospital management culture as well. This project, therefore, offers both parties advantages to benefit from our interaction," said Tshabalala-Msimang.
Source: BuaNews
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