Gauteng health issues 133 licences to mental health NGOs

The Gauteng department of health has issued 133 licences of compliance to mental health nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) for the 2018/19 financial year.

The NGOs comply with the requirements of safe patient care and sound financial management, said the provincial department.

Having learned lessons from the Life Esidimeni tragedy, the department has taken extraordinary measures to increase the number of audits at NGOs, in the interest of good, quality healthcare.

This is in line with the regulations of Mental Health Care Act number 17 of 2002, which dictates that NGOs be audited at least once a year, the department said in a statement.

The department said that in compliance with the act, both announced and unannounced visits had been conducted to NGOs to monitor and support the quality of care to mental care users.

“I am quite happy that the department has undertaken this meticulous exercise with vigour to ensure that the licensing process is flawless. The safety and care of mental health users remains key to us,” said acting head of department Professor Mkhululi Lukhele.

In conformity with new regulations on the licensing of NGOs issued by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in March, the provincial department has begun the planning process to workshop NGOs to understand and implement the new regulations, the department added.

“The Gauteng department of health would also like to take this opportunity to dispel the allegations of delays in the payment of subsidies. There is no truth in this, and there are no recorded incidents/complaints about the delay/non-payment of subsidies to NGOs.”

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