Pretoria - The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Health Technology (MAC-HT) has officially started operating to help government deliver on its 2009 - 2014 mandate for the health sector.
Health Deputy Minister Gwen Ramokgopa said on Thursday the committee will research, consider and advise on all matters related to planning and management of health technology.
"It will advise the ministry on health technology norms, standards and guidelines, plus planning and management structures relevant to the public and private sector," Ramokgopa said.
The committee's key priority is to advise on health technology planning, which includes consulting on and finalising the Essential Equipment List (EEL).
"It [EEL] will assist the department with health technology planning, budgeting, acquisition, maintenance and disposal," said Ramokgopa.
The MAC-HT is a committee of experts established by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in terms of the National Health Act. It is made up of members from relevant research bodies such as the Medical Research Council and academic institutions [such as the College of Medicine, University of Limpopo, University of Cape Town, the University of Stellenbosch and the Tshwane University of Technology],
provincial and national Departments of Health, the private sector, healthcare funders and international experts, including the World Health Organisation.
Ramokgopa said part of the department's work was to deliver on the four main outputs of the Health Sector Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement (NSDA), namely increasing life expectancy at birth, reducing maternal and child mortality rates, combating HIV and Aids and TB and strengthening the effectiveness of health systems.
"Key to achieving these outputs is the ability of the health sector to make use of available health technology," Ramokgopa said.
She also announced that the National Health Council has approved the National Health Technology Strategy, which will be launched shortly.
"The implementation of this strategy and plans, with inputs of this committee, will ensure that appropriate, efficient and safe medical devices, equipment and technology is available."
