Table 4 Regulation and rule of law

Regulation and Rule of law

Healthcare personnel compliance with regulations

Setting the tone, developing the right strategy, human resources and capacity management

Ideally … we would like to ensure that all outbreaks do not progress and become uncontrolled outbreaks and … hotspots … ideally [pause]. … So in the bigger districts … we have to choose our battles [outbreak localities] wisely to ensure that our staff, logistics, and financial resources are well utilised … setting aside the compliance issue.

(Senior Management 2)

Regulatory clarity

Operating in grey areas, fiduciary concerns, adherence to public accounting framework

The aspect of budgeting and money availability is very important and often overlooked in public health programmes …. I give you examples [pause] [starts listing on paper] … the Hilux [pickup truck] rental … maintenance of equipment for fogging activities … the payment of temporary workers …. money to organise workshops and courses for the staff to improve their dengue skills …. It takes a lot of money to run these [dengue] programmes.

(Vector-Borne Disease Unit 6)

A conducive regulatory ecosystem

Enforcement inadequacy, humanising the law, adopting a holistic approach

If you ask me …. I think the existing law is good enough, but we need to consider many other factors … before coming out with compounds …. Whether the individual can pay … his housing condition … his environment …. When you hand out compounds … you punish the offender … but you also make it difficult for the vector team to go into that community again in the future …. They don’t trust us; they close their doors …. they act like they are not at home …. [laughs]

(Inspectorate and Legislative Unit 4)