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Table 4 Content analysis of the provincial mental health and general health policy documents

From: Child and adolescent mental health policy in South Africa: history, current policy development and implementation, and policy analysis

Mental health and comprehensive general health document

Free State

Western Cape

Limpopo

KwaZulu-Natal

Mpumalanga

Eastern Cape

Mental health care policy and procedures policy. 2004. Due for review: 2009 #outdated

5-year strategic plan 2010/11–2014/15 #outdated

Healthcare 2030: the Road to Wellness

Annual performance plan 2008/09–2011 #outdated

Strategic plan 2015–2019

Annual performance plan 2016/17

Annual performance plan 2013/14–2015/16

Year

2009

2010

2014

2008

2015

2016

2013

Content focus

Emphasis is on provision of mental health services at all levels of care using intersectoral collaboration between correctional services, justice, social development, education, non-profit organisations, and groups of beneficiaries

Seven strategic goals

1. Provision of strategic leadership and creation of social compact for better health outcomes

2. Improve the quality of health care services

3. Reduce the burden of disease

4. Revitalisation of physical infrastructure

5. Improve human resource management

6. Overhaul the health care system and improve its management

7. Research and development

Focuses on strengthening primary health care (PHC) and district hospitals service as well as integration of services

CAMH falls into general health plans

The document focuses on reducing HIV and TB, improving healthy lifestyle, preventing injuries and violence, improving maternal and child health, strengthening child health, and improving mental health

Policies and programmes are mainly focused on primary health care, district health care, hospitals and resource management. The main focus is on reducing morbidity and mortality arising from communicable diseases, vaccination of preventable childhood diseases, diseases of lifestyle, HIV and AIDS and TB, trauma, and violence against women and children

Provision of sustainable, coordinated and integrated comprehensive health system at all levels using the primary healthcare approach through the district health system

Reference is made to promoting mental health and increasing the number of patients screened for mental disorders and increasing the number of mental health teams

The focus is on re-engineering of the PHC and strengthening of emergency medical services, pharmaceutical and hospital services

Service provision plans and clear guidelines for CAMH

No specific reference to children and adolescents

Some mention of MH services and plans

No. An acknowledgement of the need to separate children with mental health disorders from adults and to develop service for them in future

No

Acknowledges CAMH disorders but unclear service provisions

No

Some recognition of the CAMH disorders but no clear plans for service provision

  1. Northern Cape, Gauteng and North West provinces were excluded as no relevant documents were identified