8 June 2007
The Gauteng MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa today presented a budget of R12,052
billion for the 2007/08 financial year to the provincial legislature. This is
an increase of 15,8% over the previous year's allocation.
Speaking in the Gauteng Legislature, Hlongwa said the growth in the budget
is a reflection of the increasing demand for quality health services caused by
natural population growth as well as from across the provincial and national
borders. Visits to primary healthcare clinics have increased from 12,5 million
in 2002 to over 15,2 million in 2006.
"When you consider the escalating costs of medical care, we are likely to
witness greater numbers of the population turning to the public sector for
their health needs," he said.
Among the highlights of the budget are:
* The Department's Budget for Human Resources, which inter alia the
attraction and retention skilled professionals and valued staff rises by 40,6%,
to R338 million.
* R3,19 billion is allocated to district health services.
* Furthermore to ensure that quality health services are delivered in our
primary healthcare facilities eight new clinics will be opened in Gauteng to
meet the growing demand:
1. the Dark City Community Health Centre in Ekangala
2. the Endayeni Clinic in Tembisa
3. Greenfields Clinic to deliver on the commitment made during the 2002
Presidential Imbizo in the area
4. the John Deo Community Health Centre, in Evaton
5. the Mandela-Sisulu Clinic, in Orlando West
6. the Bristlecone Clinic, in Orange Farm
7. the Eersterus Community Health Centre, in Eersterus
8. the new clinic in Ga-Rankuwa across the road from the Phedisong 4 clinic
that will now be demolished because it has become inhabitable.
* R120 million will be used for the refurbishment of pharmacies at a number
of key health facilities: Leratong, Heidelberg, Helen Joseph and Kalafong
hospitals as well as the Hillbrow and Ekurhuleni regional pharmacies.
* Provincial hospitals received R3 billion, an increase of 8% over the previous
year.
* Central hospitals: Chris Hani Baragwanath, Johannesburg Academic, Pretoria
Academic and the Dr George Mukhari Hospital receive 9% more bringing their
share of the budget to R3,5 billion.
* The HIV and AIDS programme has received an 11,9% increase to the tune of
R577,014 million.
Antiretroviral treatment (ART) will be extended to the following clinics and
hospitals in the current financial year:
* Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre in Mamelodi
* Soshanguve Community Health Centre
* Atteridgeville Clinic
* Zithobeni Clinic in Bronkhorstspruit
* J C Dumani Clinic in Vosloorus
* Nokuthela Ngwenya Community Health Centre in Duduza
* Esangweni Community Health Centre in Tembisa
* Johan Heyns Community Health Centre in Vereeniging
* Devon Clinic
* Diepsloot Community Health Centre
* Thuthukani Clinic in Ivory Park
* Muldersdrift Clinic
* Bekkersdal Community Health Centre
* Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital
* Pretoria West Hospital.
* R17 million has been set aside to strengthen our tuberculosis (TB)
programme. The TB cure rate in the province has increased from 64% to 68,8% but
this is still below the national target of 70%.
* R30,75 million will be spent on replacement of vehicles to be used by the
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the expansion of planned patient
transport.
* Forensic pathology services received R83,7 million for the state of the
art information technology (IT) to bring these services in line with modern
requirements. This includes amongst other things operational costs.
* The Department has allocated R31 million for nutritional supplements for
poor patients with debilitating and chronic diseases.
* A total of 1 400 creches will be funded with over 26 000 children
benefiting from the integrated nutrition programme.
* R10 million goes to immunisation programmes to reach all children under
the age of five. Immunisation coverage in Gauteng now stands at 91,6%.
* R295 million has been allocated for the Department's initiatives to train
and deploy community based healthcare workers in order to reach all households
in the province with information and advice. The money will also be used to
increase the number of such community healthcare workers by 1 000.
For information contact:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2007
