African Nursing Conference Bridges Gap Between Public and Private Healthcare Sectors
Fifth Annual Event Focuses on Collaboration and Universal Health Coverage
The African Nursing Conference has successfully fostered dialogue between public and private healthcare practitioners for two consecutive years, according to Dr. Tracey de Klerk, Chair of the Gauteng Department of Health. Speaking at the fifth edition of the conference held at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Dr. de Klerk emphasized the event’s role in promoting mutual understanding between healthcare sectors.
Addressing Misconceptions About NHI Implementation
“For the past two conferences, we’ve seen strong interest from both sectors to understand each other better,” Dr. de Klerk explained. “This is particularly important with the National Health Insurance (NHI) discussions, where many don’t realize NHI is fundamentally about creating a funding mechanism for universal health coverage.”
The two-day conference brought together nursing professionals from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and various South African provinces. Discussions covered a wide range of topics relevant to the nursing profession and its evolving challenges.
Building Bridges for Better Healthcare
Dr. de Klerk highlighted the conference’s focus on universal health coverage, stressing the need for public and private sector nurses to develop collaborative approaches. “Before we can work together effectively, we need to truly understand each other’s working environments and challenges,” she noted.
The health official emphasized the importance of asking meaningful questions to foster genuine understanding: “When you comprehend the cultural, environmental, and systemic factors affecting different healthcare sectors, it changes your perspective. You begin to appreciate the scale of public healthcare needs and why this sector requires substantial support.”
Sharing Best Practices for NHI Success
Conference participants engaged in knowledge-sharing sessions to identify best practices for nursing collaboration during NHI implementation. “We’re combining ideas from both sectors to determine how nurses can work most effectively together,” Dr. de Klerk said.
She invoked an African proverb to illustrate her point: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. We’re choosing the latter approach because we want sustainable progress for our healthcare system.”
While acknowledging existing challenges like staffing shortages and resource limitations, Dr. de Klerk remained optimistic: “We recognize the obstacles, but we must start somewhere. This conference represents an important step toward building a more unified healthcare workforce.”
The event continues to serve as a crucial platform for nursing professionals to exchange ideas, address misconceptions, and develop collaborative strategies for South Africa’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Source: Times Live