The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Health Department has distanced itself from an upcoming symposium which charges R2,000 per person and R20,000 per table to “fix” KZN health.

Billed as “We are fixing KZN – one sector at a time” –  the symposium under the theme “Inclusivity in Healthcare” is organised by former journalist turned public relations specialist, Rowan Sewchurran.

It is scheduled for October 30 and features three senior officials from the National Department of Health, Professor Nicholas Crisp, Deputy Director-General for National Health Insurance (NHI); Dr Anban Pillay, Deputy Director-General for NHI; and Professor Morgan Chetty, a member of the Ministerial Committee on Healthcare Benefits.

Glaringly missing from the symposium to “fix” the province’s health woes however, is the KZN Department of Health who have since distanced itself from the event.

KZN Health Department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said: “We wish to state categorically that we are not part of this initiative and entirely distance ourselves from it. We are not able to comment on a project we are not involved with.” 

When asked about the attendance of national officials, Maphisa said the provincial department was unaware of their participation.

In response to IOL, Sewchurran said that panel members were volunteering their time and that individuals and organisations buy tables to cover running costs. He said that healthcare was the first of many symposiums he plans to organise with safety and security next.

National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohalale said the panel will consist of representatives from public and private healthcare. 

“The department associates with anyone or any organisation that shares a common vision of a stronger healthcare system to promote better health outcomes and a long, healthy life for all South Africans.”

Regarding the event’s entry fees and the involvement of government officials, Sewchurran has defended the costs as “standard for private events.” 

“This is a private event where patriotic South Africans unite to find solutions to some of the country’s most pressing issues.”

However, Bongani Chabangu, an education expert at North West University, argues that the symposium’s pricing excludes the very individuals it aims to assist.

“The symposium is not ‘solution-driven’ if those directly impacted can’t access the venue due to a lack of funds. Private entities or individuals, and the government can collaborate to provide solutions to our many social ills, but charging amounts for solutions that the government could provide for free is not what we need.”

Chabangu said that the event may fail to benefit the broader society as intended if it only serves those who can afford healthcare.

“The World Health Organisation, under Universal Health Coverage, makes it clear that government officials in their respective countries have a mandate to ensure that people have access to healthcare services despite their socioeconomic status, and that includes access to knowledge related to health issues, yet in our case, we have government officials contradicting that.”

He added that South Africans facing financial hardships and unemployment would likely be excluded from attending the symposium, undermining the goal of finding inclusive solutions to the province’s health challenges.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

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