Issue
The government of South Africa acknowledges community participation as a key component of primary healthcare. A policy paper on health governance structures was drafted in 2013 but not officially adopted, leaving ambiguity around the structures and delivery of primary healthcare.
Project partners
How we are helping
This project aims to advocate for the adoption of a national policy on health committee participation, fostering collaboration between communities, civil society, and health officials, to improve healthcare outcomes for all.
About the project
Community participation is a cornerstone of South Africa’s primary healthcare system, as outlined in the Alma-Ata Declaration and the National Health Act. However, the absence of a formal national policy leaves health committees without a clear mandate, resulting in inconsistencies across provinces and limited integration into health governance. This gap impedes the delivery of effective, equitable, and community-driven healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas. The Covid-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of robust community participation in health decision-making.
Project partners, People’s Health Movement South Africa, will empower communities to engage with stakeholders to advocate for reforms that will strengthen healthcare governance and align with the needs and experiences of health committees and communities.
This will be achieved by:
- Reviewing provincial and national health committee policies from nine provinces.
- Conducting dialogues with health committee members and activists to gather insights on their challenges.
- Organising conferences with health committee members to review the national policy and establish a national network of health committees.
- Developing a policy brief on provincial and national health committee legislation for advocacy purposes.
- Presenting the policy brief to the National Department of Health and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health.
- Producing an advocacy plan and promotional materials to support the adoption of the proposed policy on health committees.
As a result of the project, it is hoped that the capacity of health committees will be strengthened and a national network will be established to advocate for community participation in health governance. It will provide actionable policy recommendations to clarify the roles and responsibilities of health committees, fostering consistency and effectiveness nationwide.
Project Partners
People’s Health Movement South Africa (PHM-SA) is a non-profit organisation registered in South Africa in 2009. It is the South African Chapter of the People’s Health Movement (PHM), a global network of grassroots activists, civil society and academics that promote health for all. The organisation convenes the Covid-19 People's Coalition Health Working Group, which includes over 20 health organisations in South Africa committed to ensuring that the response to Covid-19 is effective, just and equitable. PHM-SA uses advocacy, education, training, alliance-building and academic research to protect and promote health for all.
The Health and Human Rights Programme conducts research and teaching at the interface of Public Health and Human Rights. This is a growing interdisciplinary field attracting increasing international attention for its contributions to strengthening health systems and providing voice to marginalised communities and groups. The programme intends, through its work, to strengthen public health competencies in human rights and to strengthen community agency to change the factors that adversely impact on their health and rights.
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