By BAKANG MOKOTO
18 June 2025 – The Select Committee on Social Services met on Wednesday received a briefing from the provincial health departments of Gauteng, Limpopo and the North West on their readiness to implement the Health Patient Registration System (HPRS) and action plans to address the findings of the Auditor-General.
During the presentations, the committee heard challenges persist within the healthcare system, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient training of personnel, and issues related to the utilisation of technology in health services.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Desery Fienies said the departments highlighted that facilities are still operating on outdated systems and there is an urgent need for a comprehensive strategy to transition to electronic systems that enhance service delivery. Fienies said, according to the North West Department of Health, as of June 2025, the HPRS has registered approximately 3.4 million patients, with follow-up visits totalling about 10.5 million.
“However, only 101 out of 319 facilities are actively using the HPRS, reflecting a data synchronisation rate of just 16% for June 2025. The department said many facilities are facing challenges, including old system versions and connectivity issues.
“In Limpopo, the committee heard that implementation of the HPRS faces challenges, particularly in training and integration into existing workflows. The provincial department acknowledged the slow pace of training and the need for comprehensive support to ensure that healthcare workers can effectively utilise the HPRS,” he said.
Fienies further said, however, the committee members have highlighted the urgency of addressing these training gaps to enhance service delivery and ensure that the technology functions as intended. She added that in Gauteng, the provincial department’s approach to the HPRS has yielded mixed results.
“The initial rollout began in 2017. Committee members highlighted the importance of a seamless integration between various health information systems to enable comprehensive data management, which is essential for improving patient care.
“The Auditor-General’s findings from the 2023/24 financial year highlighted the need for improvements in data management and infrastructure. The North West Department of Health has developed an action plan to address these findings, dividing the plan into two parallel segments with clear objectives,” said Fienies.
She said the committee emphasised the importance of collaboration between provincial health departments and the National Department of Health to address these gaps. Fienies said the committee noted with concern matters pertaining to human resources.
“Members were informed of staffing shortages, irregular appointments and inadequate training, which were cited as major barriers to effective service delivery. The committee has called for strict adherence to recruitment policies and the implementation of consequence management to ensure accountability among healthcare workers.
“Members of the committee said these measures are deemed essential for building a capable and responsive workforce that can effectively utilise technological resources like the HPRS,” she said.
The Guardian 