THE health memorandum of understanding that SA signed last week with China, is intended to ensure mutual co-operation on a wide range of health issues, from traditional medicine to training, according to a senior Health Department official.
The emphasis is on knowledge and skills exchange, rather than aid for infrastructure projects of the kind seen in some other African countries.
The memorandum was one of 26 agreements signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to SA last week.
It fitted neatly with China’s well-established approach of practising "health diplomacy" towards Africa, said Ross Anthony, acting director of the Centre for Chinese studies at the University of Stellenbosch.
"We hope it will be a two-way street, not just Chinese largesse to SA," said Yogan Pillay, deputy director-general for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health.
The memorandum identified 10 areas for co-operation, but did not go into specific detail, said Dr Pillay. Co-operation is planned for public health and biomedical research, primary healthcare and family medicine; quality assurance; education, training and research in traditional medicine; health promotion and prevention of diseases; medicine regulation (including traditional medicine); emergency medicine; HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; recruitment of health professionals; and human resource development.
Dr Pillay said the memorandum did not include infrastructure projects as these were adequately covered by the government’s budget. "It’s technology and expertise we need."
SA and China had well-established co-operation agreements on traditional medicine, in which SA sought to learn more about how China had integrated traditional Chinese medicine with allopathic (western) medicine.
The Sino-SA memorandum follows a broader China-Africa health agreement signed in October, in which China pledged direct support to the continent, including building 100 new hospitals and clinics in Africa, and encouraging "10 large Chinese pharmaceutical and medical equipment enterprises" to co-operate with African counterparts.
The Sino-Africa agreement says China will match 20 of its tertiary hospitals with African facilities to strengthen clinical practice, and that China will send 1,500 medical personnel to Africa in the next three years.
Staff would be sent on short medical missions to 40 countries to provide services such as free cataract surgery.
Traditional Chinese medicine. Picture: REUTERS/ALY SONG
THE health memorandum of understanding that SA signed last week with China, is intended to ensure mutual co-operation on a wide range of health issues, from traditional medicine to training, according to a senior Health Department official.
The emphasis is on knowledge and skills exchange, rather than aid for infrastructure projects of the kind seen in some other African countries.
The memorandum was one of 26 agreements signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to SA last week.
It fitted neatly with China’s well-established approach of practising "health diplomacy" towards Africa, said Ross Anthony, acting director of the Centre for Chinese studies at the University of Stellenbosch.
"We hope it will be a two-way street, not just Chinese largesse to SA," said Yogan Pillay, deputy director-general for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health.
The memorandum identified 10 areas for co-operation, but did not go into specific detail, said Dr Pillay. Co-operation is planned for public health and biomedical research, primary healthcare and family medicine; quality assurance; education, training and research in traditional medicine; health promotion and prevention of diseases; medicine regulation (including traditional medicine); emergency medicine; HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; recruitment of health professionals; and human resource development.
Dr Pillay said the memorandum did not include infrastructure projects as these were adequately covered by the government’s budget. "It’s technology and expertise we need."
SA and China had well-established co-operation agreements on traditional medicine, in which SA sought to learn more about how China had integrated traditional Chinese medicine with allopathic (western) medicine.
The Sino-SA memorandum follows a broader China-Africa health agreement signed in October, in which China pledged direct support to the continent, including building 100 new hospitals and clinics in Africa, and encouraging "10 large Chinese pharmaceutical and medical equipment enterprises" to co-operate with African counterparts.
The Sino-Africa agreement says China will match 20 of its tertiary hospitals with African facilities to strengthen clinical practice, and that China will send 1,500 medical personnel to Africa in the next three years.
Staff would be sent on short medical missions to 40 countries to provide services such as free cataract surgery.
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