21 February 2007
The Department of Health appreciates the allocation of additional resources
particularly for the areas of human resources, HIV and AIDS, hospital
revitalisation and tertiary services.
The R5,3 billion allocated for human resources is in response to the
proposals made by the Department of Health to Treasury with regard to the
review of remuneration for health workers. With this allocation, we are now in
position to commence consultations with employee organisations on these
proposals that will lead to improvement in remuneration for health workers
particularly the nurses.
The allocation for HIV and AIDS will enable the department to achieve its
objective of significantly increasing access to prevention, care and treatment
for HIV and AIDS to all. The Comprehensive HIV and AIDS programme is expanding
at a very fast pace making South Africa to be a country with the largest number
of people on antiretroviral treatment in the world.
With increasing pace of delivery within the Hospital Revitalisation
Programme as noted by Minister Manuel, the extra R1 billion allocated will
enable the department to mainly sustain the capital projects that are currently
underway.
As more hospital revitalisation projects are being completed, extra
resources are needed to ensure that these hospitals have the necessary
equipment, staffing and management capacity. The extra R1 billion on tertiary
health services will assist in this regard.
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, will elaborate on the
utilisation of resources during her budget speech.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Spokesperson for the Minister of Health
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Health
21 February 2007
