Application of the Batho Pele Principles as a Quality Management tool in HIV-AIDS Healthcare in south Africa

Abstract

HIV-AIDS continues to bear a high disease burden in many developing countries including South Africa which has the greatest disease prevalence. The only way to counteract the devastating effects of this disease is to ensure adequate point of care HIV diagnosis and referral to timely care through HIV-AIDS programmes. The South African state HIV-AIDS programme is currently the largest programme in the world as it provides HIV-AIDS services to almost 7 million South Africans. Quality management systems in healthcare is therefore a pre requisite to ensure safe and efficacious HIV-AIDS care is provided to those affected and infected by HIV-AIDS. One such quality management tool proposed is, the application of the Batho Pele principles as a quality management tool in HIV-AIDS healthcare. The Batho Pele initiative aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of government services by improving efficiency and accountability to the recipients of public goods and services. The Batho Pele (“People First”) principles are aligned to the South African constitution. All government officials must follow the “Batho Pele” principles which require public servants to be polite, open and transparent and to deliver good service to the public. Batho Pele requires that nine service delivery principles be implemented regarding consulting, service standards, courtesy, information delivery transparency and value for money. This is a an exploratory article which reviews the literature available to assess the alignment of the Batho Pele principles as a quality management tool in HIV-AIDS healthcare towards building good leadership and clinical strategic direction in South Africa.