BusinessLive reports that, on the condition that the required resources be provided, rebuilding the strike-hit department of health in North West will take about 18 months.  

The department, which was brought to a point of collapse as a result of a strike last month, has been placed under administration by national government and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has appointed an intervention team, led by Jeanette Hunter as the administrator.  The costing for the intervention and its team of experts is expected to be completed by August.  The team plans to strengthen supply-chain management and internal governance, and review the department’s organisational structure, among other things.  

Hunter told National Council of Provinces (NCOP) members on Wednesday that the budget allocation for the compensation of employees to fill critical posts in the department was insufficient.  She noted that there were 734 acting positions in the department.  Of the 21,829 approved posts, 19% (4,175) were vacant.  The vacancy rate at senior management level was 28%, with 17 of the 63 posts needing to be filled.

• Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive

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