HSRC Review 11(3). July: 1-30

In 2008, former KwaZulu-Natal premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, and the then-chair of the Board of Development Bank of Southern Africa, Jay Naidoo, organised a health stakeholders group to initiate a process to turn around the South African healthcare system in preparation for the new administration that would take office in 2009. There were robust debates from public and private sector participants about how to reverse the downward trend of the healthcare system. This process was finalised in December 2008, and it was agreed to recommend 10 priority actions to President Jacob Zumas administration to consider for implementation. Two successive ministers, Barbara Hogan and Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, embraced the ten point plan and initiated improvements in the healthcare system. One of the key objectives was to strengthen research and development by introducing a health and nutrition examination survey to track the health of the population.