By Staff Reporter
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The newly appointed members of Clinic Committees are geared up to ensure that the  370 public clinics located in their communities offer patient-centred care and work closely with locals to improve health outcomes.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has appointed 1 444 clinic committee members to improve the quality of service and patient experience of care at their local clinics across the province. 
These structures will play a vital role in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in the governance of public clinics through fostering public participation, assisting in addressing health needs of the communities they serve, and ensuring accountability and the effective management of the facilities.
Clinic Committees are statutory bodies appointed by the MEC for Health and Wellness in accordance with Section 42 of the National Health Act, No.61 of 2003. Members are appointed for a three-year term, and they may serve for not more than three consecutive terms.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko on Wednesday, 10 April welcomed the Clinic Committee members during their induction programme held at the Centenary Hall in Krugersdorp, West Rand.
She emphasised that the appointed members will voluntarily conduct oversight in their local clinics in an effort to improve health services and patient experience of care. They include five community members, three ex-officio members who may be a local councillor, health representative, and a community development worker. 
"In our efforts to strengthen governance across all our health facilities, we have appointed these members to ensure that the voices of our communities are heard, acted upon and their health needs are adequately addressed in our public clinics," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.