JOHANNESBURG - New health ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena says the office is a big challenge due to the limited resources in the sector and the growing population.
He was speaking after the announcement that he will take over as ombud.
Mokoena said, "The office of the ombud is a big challenge. It's a big challenge for a variety of issues, not least of which are the difficulties that the health care system is undergoing currently."
"It's under pressure, we have limited resources and yet we have a growing population in the country and as the population grows some of the gains of the health care system is that people live longer and therefore they consume healthcare resources longer and for that reason it is very difficult given the economy of the country for the country to provide timorously for the growth of the demand."
"However, even if we have limited resources relative to the needs, it is important that the limited resources must be deployed fairly, equitably and above all with high ethical standards. It is the function of the ombud, not to make sure this happens but when it does not happen, to make sure interventions happen."