Here are five steps he can take to help fix this troubled department.

First, pay all suppliers within 30 days, as required by law. Settle all debts of the past and keep strict financial control.

Second, fire all non-performers. There are too many useless staff at the Gauteng health head office, which has ballooned from 1100 to 1800 people in the last three years. Fire them or find them something productive to do.

Weed out all the hospital managers who are visibly failing. Johanna More, the CEO of Chris Hani Baragwanath h ospital, should be the first to go.

Third, review all contracts to eliminate waste and corruption. For instance, we are paying way too much for security firms that don't do the job at hospitals.

Fourth, put in a computerised health information system so patients are handled efficiently and costs can be controlled. Paper files need to be eliminated as they constantly get lost and cause long delays for patients.

Fifth, we need creative partnerships with the private health sector so that expertise and equipment can be shared.

There are many other things that need to be done to improve health in Gauteng, but implementing these five steps would be a good start.