Hlongwa, for the 2007/08 financial year
8 June 2007
Introduction
Honourable Speaker, I table this budget in the middle of the third term of
our democratic government. The track record of the African National Congress
(ANC) government over the past 13 years testifies to the fact that we have made
strides in ensuring that healthcare is accessible to our people.
Communities, who had no access to basic healthcare, enjoy access to services
which were a pipedream to those of us who were raised when basic healthcare was
a privilege for a minority.
The poor and vulnerable have benefited from the programmes that we implement
in our province. Indeed the age of hope is not only a pipe dream but it
continues being realised on a daily basis.
The expansion of basic health services has also presented us with immense
challenges, in terms of ensuring that quality healthcare is delivered in our
facilities.
Honourable Speaker, according to Census 2001, 23,9% of households in Gauteng
live in informal housing as compared to 16,4% for South Africa as a whole. The
percentage of Gauteng households without toilets is low (3,6%) as compared to
for the country as a whole (13,6%).
Improved access to running water, sanitation and health services has reduced
infectious diseases as the major cause of death in childhood. There however
remains a relatively small area with poor sanitation and limited access to
clean and sanitised water, located in the mainly rural Metsweding District
Municipality. This poses a potential threat for outbreaks of water borne
diseases and other health crises.
According to the Health Systems Trust (2006), the uninsured population in
Gauteng as at 2005, stood at 77,5%. This was an increase from 73,1% which was
the figure that was estimated by the 1999 household survey. This increase in
uninsured population invariably results in additional pressures on the public
healthcare system in the province, as this sector of the population is the main
users of public health facilities.
In addition, when one considers the escalating costs of medical care, we are
likely to witness greater numbers of the population having to turn to the
public sector for their health needs.
A review of the health status of the population of Gauteng shows a complex
and wide scope of conditions or illnesses related to poverty, malnutrition,
emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS and
tuberculosis (TB).
Poverty also is the major contributor to trauma and violence. In addition,
there is a high prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle such as
hypertension, diabetes and mental illness.
Honourable Speaker, we need to be frank with ourselves and reconfigure
health and healthcare in order to ensure that the priorities that we set the
programmes that we embark on and resources that we employ in provision of
health and healthcare is all informed by reality.
For many years we have allowed health to be defined by what it is not. For
many years our programmes have been driven by an assumption that poor health
should define what we are about.
I have argued previously that health should not be mystified and be defined
in negative terms. I have even gone further and stated that I am not the MEC
for diseases and illnesses. When the honourable Premier appointed me as MEC he
proclaimed that I would be the MEC for Health.
This proclamation implied that I would be responsible for a Department that
must ensure that the people of Gauteng remain healthy.
One of the key strategic objectives of the Gauteng Provincial Government
(GPG) is to ensure that that we strive towards a productive and healthy people
of Gauteng.
That productivity cannot be achieved as long as our people suffer the burden
of illnesses that are either a result of poverty, ignorance and or
self-indulgence in some extreme cases.
Honourable Speaker, the manner in which we spend our resources will have to
change drastically if we are to ensure that the resources that have been made
available to us assist us in achieving our objectives.
Having inherited a fragmented health system has resulted in spending
patterns and deployment of other resources that had no bearing on the real
situation within which our people live.
A skewed pattern of expenditure towards a hospital centred healthcare
system, resulted in acceptance of disease trends and patterns that should never
be part of our province if one considers the amount of money that is spent on
our health system.
Gauteng province has the fourth largest economy in Africa, after Egypt,
Tunisia and South Africa itself. Yet our health outcomes are not proportional
to the financial resources that are spent on our health system. Poor countries
with scarce resources continue to achieve better health outcomes when compared
to us.
As I table this budget of R12,052 billion, I am mindful of the fact that it
amounts to a 15,8% increase from the budget allocation of 2006/07.
Policy imperatives
This budget allocation is congruent with policy imperatives that have an
impact on how we as a department conduct our business. The following policy
imperatives impacted on this increase:
* demarcation of provincial boundaries
* transfer of tuberculosis (TB) beds to the provincial Department
* transfer of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Primary Healthcare (PHC)
from municipalities to the provincial department
* transfer of mortuaries and forensic pathology services from the South African
Police Service (SAPS).
With regard to demarcation of provincial boundaries, we have been allocated
R4,026 million. While we have ceded Carletonville Hospital to the North West
Provincial Government with effect from 1 April 2007, we have also taken over
Odi and Jubilee Hospitals and 17 clinics and community health centres (CHCs)
which refer patients to these hospitals, as well as two CHCs that were formally
administered by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
We have provincialised TB beds and in support of this policy decision we
have been allocated R31,8 million.
Forensic pathology services
In April 2006, 12 forensic pathology mortuaries were transferred to our
Department. During the financial year medico-legal investigation of 14 897
deaths were performed at these mortuaries. We have also developed a body
identification website which will become fully operational within the next six
months.
With regard to these services R83,749 million has been allocated for this
financial year which will be used to render the services and also address some
of the infrastructure backlogs that we inherited as well as ensuring that high
tech information technology (IT) is employed in order to bring these services
in line with modern service requirements.
Transfer of PHC services to the Department
Honourable Speaker, we have already begun a process to transfer Primary
Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services from municipalities to the
Department. Due diligence studies have been completed, detailed business plans
drafted and consultations with affected parties are underway.
This process will be phased in to ensure that there is minimal disruption of
services.
We have already assumed full funding responsibility for the provision of PHC
at district municipalities. We have already taken over the provision of
Emergency Medical Services from Mestweding District as from 1 April 2007 and
are currently in the process of negotiating with municipal unions for the
transfer of PHC staff from Metsweding.
We will begin transfer of staff and assets from West Rand and Sedibeng
District municipalities as from 1 July 2007 and complete the process by April
2008.
With regard to provision of PHC in metropolitan municipalities, the status
quo remains in terms of joint funding and joint provision of these services in
the interim phase until the process of this transfer is finalised.
Honourable Speaker, the decision to transfer Primary Healthcare and
Emergency Medical Services is not only a policy one it is in line with both the
Constitution and legislation.
Schedule 4 Part A of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
determines health services as a concurrent competency of national and
provincial government. Schedule 4 Part B of the Constitution determines
municipal health services as the competency of local government.
The National Health Act of 2003 defines municipal health services as a list
of Environmental Health Services (EHS). Section 25 of the Act lists the general
functions of provincial departments including comprehensive primary health
services.
Twenty three million rand has been allocated in order to bridge funding that
will result from us taking full funding responsibility for these services at
the level of district councils.
Reducing the burden of disease
Child health
We continue our campaigns to ensure that the Expanded Programme on
Immunisation (EPI) reaches all children less than five years in the province.
We have now ensured that "Every Day is an Immunisation Day" at all our
clinics.
The impact of the 2004 mass immunisation campaign and the launch of the
'Every Day is an Immunisation Day' campaign have resulted in immunisation
coverage increasing to 91,6% in the 2006/07 financial year. We have allocated
R10 million for this campaign in this financial year. This allocation excludes
programmes that are conducted at district level.
Women's health
Honourable Speaker, the 2002 to 2004 data of the triennial Saving Mothers
Report released by the Minister of Health estimates a maternal mortality ratio
of 149,4 per 100 000 live births for Gauteng. The major direct causes of deaths
have been identified as hypertension in pregnancy, obstetric haemorrhage,
pulmonary embolism and acute collapse, pregnancy related sepsis, abortion and
ectopic pregnancy.
Indirect causes of death include non-pregnancy related infection (mostly due
to HIV and AIDS) and pre-existing medical diseases and AIDS remain the number
one cause of death in the province and the country.
The 1998 to 1999 report on cancer in South Africa indicated that cancer of
the cervix is the second most common cancer amongst women worldwide. The South
African rates in black women are the highest, followed by coloured women.
The Department continues to implement the cervical cancer screening
programme to reduce the incidence amongst women of child bearing age. Women who
visit our clinics to access other health services and those who specifically
request breast cancer examinations are examined at the same clinics and where
abnormalities such as breast lumps are detected, we refer them to hospitals for
further management.
Last year alone 8 861 women underwent mammographies. Last year we also
screened 100 939 women for cervical cancer and 8 725 were found to have
abnormal smears and were referred for appropriate management and care. We will
continue to focus on the early detection of these conditions.
Reducing the burden of TB
Honourable Speaker, TB remains a challenge. The cure rate is very low when
one takes into consideration the amount of money we spend on programmes to
combat it.
We still experience the highest burden of TB.
In fact, we are part of the countries that account for 80% of all cases in
the world.
The rate of TB infection has almost doubled in Gauteng since 1996. The cure
rate of TB has improved from 64% to 68,8% but still falls short of the national
target of 70%.
This low cure rate is largely due to patients failing to present themselves
early at our facilities when they have TB symptoms and also failure to complete
prescribed treatment regimens. HIV and AIDS have also compounded the challenge
posed by TB in our province.
This situation has been further worsened by the emergence of a new
multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB which has resulted in numerous deaths.
We will intensify programmes which are aimed at ensuring that TB is detected
early, that people present themselves early at our facilities if they show TB
symptoms and finish their course of treatment if they have been confirmed as
having TB.
We succeeded in increasing the cure rate of TB from 62% to 72% in
Johannesburg, over a period of four months. If this can be achieved in
Johannesburg surely it can be replicated throughout the province. We have set
aside R17 million for infection control, drugs, laboratory costs, TB facility
revitalisation and campaigns to mobilise and educate our communities on the
scourge of TB.
Strengthening the district health system
Honourable Speaker, the bedrock of our health system is the district health
system of which PHC is the foundation. We have taken a conscious policy
decision to strengthen the district health system.
We have invested in building clinics in those areas where there were none
and also in upgrading those clinics which were not serving the health needs of
our people optimally.
In the past financial year we opened new clinics in the following areas:
Laudium Community Health Centre and Maternal Obstetric Unit
(Klipkruisfontein Clinic)
Comprehensive services are now being offered in our clinics. These services
include among others, child and maternal health and HIV and AIDS prevention.
The fact that visits to our primary health care clinics have increased to 12,5
million by 2002 and to over 15,2 million by the end of the financial year
2006/07, is evidence of expanded access to services that were inaccessible to
our people.
This increase in the number of visits is on the one hand a vote of
confidence in the services that we deliver. However, on the other hand it could
be interpreted to mean that the burden of illness is increasing.
We will strive to deliver quality health care at this level in order to
reduce unnecessary long queues at our hospitals.
We will extend hours of service at 15 of our clinics in order to ensure that
people who require PHC services do not walk into our hospitals when they could
be helped at an appropriate level of care. The following clinics will have
their hours of service extended:
Refilwe Clinic
* Nokeng Tsa Taemane, Refilwe
* 16:00 to 18:00 weekdays
* Increase access to community staying in Refilwe during the week. The clinic
already opens Saturdays.
Zithobeni
* Kungwini, north of Bronkhorstspruit
* Saturday mornings
* Increase access to community staying in Zithobeni.
ML PLessen
* Mogale, eastern part of in Krugersdorp
* Saturday mornings
* Well utilised by people working in town and increased hours will also take
load off Dr Yusuf Dadoo.
Krugersdorp Central
* Mogale, central in Krugersdorp
* Saturday mornings
* Well utilised by people working in town and surrounding neighbourhoods and
increased hours will also take load off Dr Yusuf Dadoo.
Dr Martinez Ramirez
* Mogale, north of Krugersdorp in densely populated area (Munsieville)
* Saturday mornings
* Increase access to community in Munsieville.
Itumeleng
* Mogale, rural area in North West province
* Saturday mornings
* Equal access also to rural community to services on Saturdays.
Ratanda
* Lesedi, south of Heidelberg in Ratanda
* Saturday mornings
* Provide access to services in the township.
Mamelodi West
* Tshwane, western part of Mamelodi
* Saturday mornings
* Increase access to services for population in township. Clinic is highly
utilised. In the east Stanza CHC and Holani Clinic already provides extended
hours.
Nellmapius
* Tshwane, growth area towards the south of Mamelodi
* Saturday mornings
* Clinic is well utilised and extended hours will improve access to
services.
Kempton Park Civic Centre Clinic:
* Ekurhuleni, Kempton Park CBD
* Saturday mornings
* CBD frequented by residents also from surrounding townships and extended
hours will improve access to PHC services.
Boksburg Civic Centre Clinic:
* Ekurhuleni, Boksburg CBD
* Saturday mornings
* CBD frequented by residents also from surrounding townships and extended
hours will improve access to PHC services.
Reiger Park Clinic
Ekurhuleni, Boksburg area
* Saturday mornings
* Provide access on Saturdays to residents in this densely populated area.
Katlehong North Clinic:
* Ekurhuleni, Germiston area in Katlehong
* Saturday mornings
* Provide access on Saturdays to residents in this densely populated area.
Goba Clinic:
* Ekurhuleni, Germiston area in Katlehong to the southern part Saturday
mornings
* Provide access on Saturdays to residents in this densely populated area. The
service will also reduce the load on Natalspruit Hospital.
Kwa-Thema CHC:
* Ekurhuleni, Springs area in Kwa-Thema
* 12 hours daily
* Provide access after hours to residents in this densely populated area.
To be identified:
* COJ Region A
* to be identified
* need to provide access to extended hours in sub-district.
To be identified:
* COJ Region B
* to be identified
* need to provide access to extended hours in sub-district.
In order to achieve the above we have increased the overall allocation for
District Health Services by 25,6% to R3 193 477.
This amount has been allocated to ensure that quality health care services
are delivered at our clinics.
Honourable Speaker, I would also like to announce that in the next eight
weeks we will demolish Phedisong Clinic in Garankuwa and open a new clinic that
was built and is across the road. The clinic that will be demolished is
un-inhabitable and not suitable for delivery of health services. We will also
open the following health facilities:
* Dark City Community Health Centre with a Maternal Obstetric Unit in Ekangala,
this facility will operate on a 24-hour basis,
* Endayeni Clinic in Tembisa,
* Greenfields Clinic, this is a fulfilment of a commitment that was made during
the 2002 Presidential Imbizo in the same area,
* Johan Deo Community Health Centre, in Evaton,
* MandelaâSisulu Clinic, in Orlando West,
* Bristlecone Clinic, in Orange Farm,
* Eersterus Community Health Centre, in Eersterus.
Honourable Speaker, I take this opportunity to commend my colleagues who are
members of the mayoral committees responsible for Health and Emergency Services
(HES) in the metropolitan and district councils for the leadership they have
provided since we reconstituted the provincial health council after the local
government elections last year.
Almost all of them, including myself, were new in our respective portfolios
but that has not deterred us from executing the mandate that was entrusted to
us.
Community based health care services
We will intensify community based healthcare services as part of the PHC
package by ensuring that we deal decisively with the causes of illnesses that
are preventable. Diseases of lifestyle that are associated with poor nutrition,
obesity, smoking and ineffective stress management will be tackled head on.
We will increase the number of community health workers (CHWs) by a further
1 000 in order to reach more households in our endeavour to reduce the burden
of illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, TB and HIV and AIDS. An amount of
R295 million has been set aside to achieve this.
This implies that health promotion programmes will be informed by the
disease burden that is prevalent in each sub-district with each facility
serving a cluster of wards.
Provision of a rapid Emergency Medical Service
Honourable Speaker, provision of Emergency Medical Services is also a
constitutional responsibility of provincial government. We have already begun
taking over provision of this service at Metsweding on 1 April 2007. Service
delivery has improved within the district due to the provision of an additional
vehicle for obstetric deliveries and vehicle for planned patient transport to
move non-emergency patients. In addition, we have opened an ambulance base in
Ekangala. Additional staff has been temporarily appointed until permanent
appointments are in place which will increase the staffing complement for
Metsweding, hence improving service delivery tremendously.
We will also take over the provision of Emergency Medical Services in
Sedibeng District with effect from 1 July 2007. We will proceed to Johannesburg
Metropolitan Council with effect from 1 October 2007.
During our provinces process temporary ambulance bases will be identified.
As part of the upgrading and improvement of emergency departments and the
creation of an integrated comprehensive emergency care system, permanent
ambulance bases will be added to existing healthcare facilities. This will
ensure appropriate communication between the components of the health system
and assist in making decisions on hospital closures, delays in hand over of
patients, appropriate notification of Emergency Medical Services of mass
casualties and improvement in the delivery of the package of health
services.
The process in other metropolitan councils and the West Rand District will
be phased in to ensure that there is equity in service delivery and norms and
standards are adhered to. We will make an announcement with regard to the
details of this process in due course.
Approximately R30,75 million will be spent on replacement of vehicles and
expansion of the planned patient transport. R580 000 will be spent on
replacement and revitalisation of capital equipment in upgrading all additional
vehicles.
The training for Emergency Medical Services staff and up skilling the staff
to meet the norms and standards is under way and Lebone Provincial College will
be increasing the outputs in alignment with the norms and standards. Additional
control centre staff will be appointed and trained by February 2008.
Implementation of an Employee Assistant Programme (EAP) focusing on critical
incident stress management for all emergency care personnel will begin in
February 2008, which will assist in the management of the operational staff and
empowering them during their operational duties.
A state of the art command centre in Midrand will be finalised by November
2007, in conjunction with the Department of Local Government disaster
management. This will ensure that during and after the provinces process, all
emergency services will continue to be available in the case of an emergency at
all levels such as medical, rescue, fire, South African Police Service (SAPS),
amongst others.
Preparations for the 2010 World Cup falls under this programme. An amount of
R502,341 million has been budgeted for the Emergency Medical Services
programme.
Community awareness campaigns and utilisation of community services through
training and volunteer programs will begin taking place in November 2007.
Reducing new HIV and AIDS infections
Honourable Speaker, since the launch of the HIV and AIDS Comprehensive
Treatment and Care Programme, including antiretroviral treatment (ART) which
was commenced in April 2004, more than 400 000 people have been assessed. We
have accredited 47 facilities to provide ART and 46 of these are public health
facilities including Johannesburg Prison. Currently there are more than 75 000
people on ART. The partnership with private international non-government
organisations (NGOs) increased the number of patients on ART and this is highly
appreciated. We will continue working with them to ensure that more people
access the comprehensive care, treatment and support including ART.
All our clinics provide prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV
services except 2% which are in the Tshwane/Metsweding region. I am pleased to
announce that we will extend this service to all our clinics in the province in
this financial year.
In line with the National Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Strategy, we will
ensure that the components of community mobilisation coupled with treatment and
care complement each other. We are cognisant of the targets that have been set
by the strategy that was adopted at a national level.
We believe that in order to stem the tide of HIV and AIDS, more efforts and
energy will be employed on increasing the number of people who access voluntary
counselling and testing (VCT). We will launch the "Proudly Tested" campaign in
the course of this financial year.
It is only when we de-stigmatise testing for HIV that we will be able to
know exactly what we are dealing with. This does not mean that we will no
longer focus on treatment and care. The HIV and AIDS programme has received a
11,9% increase to the tune of R577,014 million.
Nutrition
We have budgeted R31 million in this financial year for nutrition
supplements which are also available for poor patients with debilitating and
chronic diseases. A total of 1 400 crèches will be funded with over 26 000
children benefiting from the integrated nutrition programme. I call upon our
officials to interact directly with crèches and not only rely on umbrella
bodies or intermediaries that apply for funding on their behalf.
This will enhance the health and welfare of our children and limit risks for
diseases and injury. Parents should make sure that not only are the crèches
registered but also that they have a health certificate. Health promoters and
environmental health officials will need to work together with communities in
this regard.
Hospital services
Honourable Speaker, our hospitals boast of world-renowned centres of
excellence.
Some of which are the following:
* wound therapy, neurosurgery and ophthalmology, corneal and renal transplant
units in the Dr George Mukhari Hospital,
* renal and hand units in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital,
* trauma, oncology and paediatric nephrology units and the Haemophilia Centre
in the Johannesburg Hospital,
* neuro-physiology unit and oncology units in the Pretoria Academic
Hospital,
* spinal and paediatric oncology units at Kalafong Hospital,
* spinal unit in Natalspruit Hospital.
I am proud to say that some of the specialists, who practice in the private
health sector, were actually trained in our hospitals.
We have made efforts to reduce queues and waiting times at our hospitals. We
are cognizant of the challenges that the burden of disease is posing on our
hospitals. We have invested financial resources in the past financial year to
reduce long queues at our hospital pharmacies.
We undertook refurbishment of pharmacies in hospitals in order to reduce
waiting times for patients who have been seen by health professionals and also
those who collect chronic medication on a regular basis. Refurbishments at the
following hospitals have been completed:
* Kopanong Hospital
* Pholosong Hospital
* Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital
* Edenvale Hospital
* Far East Rand
* Weskoppies Hospital.
All pharmacies at the above hospitals were refurbished at the cost of R40
million.
We are on course to complete refurbishment of the following pharmacies in
the current term of office at the cost of approximately R120 million:
* Leratong Hospital
* Heidelberg Hospital
* Helen Joseph Hospital
* Kalafong Hospital
* Ekurhuleni Region Pharmacy
* Hillbrow Regional Pharmacy.
Honourable Speaker, we acknowledge that in order for our hospitals to
deliver quality healthcare services we need to implement the Service
Transformation Plan which will ensure the management of patients is at the
appropriate level of the healthcare service.
We have 10 district hospitals that are supposed to be the referral points
for clinics. We have 11 provincial hospitals that are supposed to render a
secondary level of care and four central hospitals that are supposed to treat
patients who require tertiary healthcare.
However, we still have a situation where a regional hospital such as
Kalafong, renders 33% tertiary services while it is supposed to be a regional
hospital.
We need to correct this anomaly. That is why we continue to overspend and
over extend our resources. We will define service packages that are to be
rendered at appropriate levels of care.
We delegated financial, human resource and procurement functions to hospital
managers last year in order to ensure seamless functioning of these
institutions. We embarked on a programme to build capacity of hospital managers
in collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Wits University.
We are aware of concerns that funds that allocated under this programme
might not be sufficient. However, we need to address our spending patterns,
what informs our budgets and the priorities that we set.
As long as we continue to deliver services at inappropriate levels, we will
continue to overspend instead of consolidating our programmes and formulate
budgets that are activity based.
The infrastructure backlogs that are prevalent at our hospitals are huge,
some of the hospitals are a hundred years old. We have set aside funds to
address this.
We will also make an announcement very shortly with regard to
rationalisation of floating units. We have been forthright and faced reality
with regard to those floating units that have a business case for continuing to
function and we have also been realistic and will make appropriate
announcements in due course.
The amount of R3 008,568 that has been allocated for provincial hospitals is
an increase of 8,03% from the allocation of the previous financial year.
Central hospitals
Honourable Speaker, our central hospitals namely Chris Hani Baragwanath
Hospital, Johannesburg Hospital, Pretoria Academic Hospital and Dr George
Mukhari Hospital render specialised health services to patients who come from
across our boundaries and borders.
In March 2007 we officially opened a new Pretoria Academic Hospital which
has world class equipment.
Honourable Speaker,
These hospitals provide highly specialised services, training and research.
We will continue to relieve these hospitals of level one services in order to
ensure that they focus on their core business, that is, provision of
specialised care and treatment. In order to achieve this objective, we have
allocated these hospitals a total of R3 516,165 billion which is an increase of
9,02%.
Human resources
Honourable Speaker, we have finalised our Human Resources Strategy. This
involved all stakeholders including the labour formations. We hold the view
that without health professionals there is no health system to speak of.
I take this opportunity to salute those of our health professionals who have
taken a conscious decision to remain with the public health sector in spite of
being promised greener pastures, either outside of the public health sector or
beyond our shores.
Indeed, you are a source of strength and inspiration when one considers the
pressures that you face at our facilities due to a number of factors.
I am pleased to announce that we have decided to reopen some of the nursing
colleges currently not in operation. This will allow us to produce more nurses
in shorter periods. In Gauteng, we have committed ourselves to doubling the
number of nurses entering the profession over the medium term framework. We
will be doing so at a rate of 20% per year and have already exceeded our
initial targets.
Plans are also underway to reopen Coronation Nursing College as a campus of
the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital's Nursing College.
Our Department has also embarked on marketing programmes aimed at
encouraging more people to choose nursing as a career. We have participated in
career exhibitions and made presentations at different high schools. We are
optimistic that all these interventions will increase the number of people
choosing this noble career.
Honourable Speaker, as evidence of our endeavour to address the challenge
that is posed by shortage of health professionals we have increased this year's
allocation by 40,6% to R330,820 million.
Health facilities management
We have conducted an in-depth appraisal of the conditions and maintenance
requirements of our facilities. We have prioritised revitalisation of our
health facilities and purchase of modern equipment to meet our service
needs.
We have prioritised strategic partnerships and collaboration with its major
stakeholders, to enhance service delivery. The Department continues to
implement the revitalisation projects at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
Accident and Emergency and outpatient departments.
We will enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to perform the
revitalisation and upgrading of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Our
commitment to build nine new clinics and three new hospitals in the Medium Term
Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is well on schedule.
In the 2007/08 financial year the following projects will be completed:
* Bristlecone Clinic: new clinic
* Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital: new accident, emergency and trauma, out
patients department, radiology and pharmacy
* Cullinan Care: upgrade water reticulation
* Dr George Mukhari: air conditioning
* Dr George Mukhari: new mortuary
* Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital: admin and ward six
* Edenvale Hospital: conversion of boiler house into stores
* Eersterus CHC: phase two
* Far East Rand Hospital: building water reticulation
* Heidelberg Hospital: new pharmacy
* Heidelberg Hospital: medical gas
* Helen Joseph Hospital: new pharmacy
* Helen Joseph Hospital: lifts upgrade
* Johan Deo Clinic: clinic
* Johannesburg Hospital: new goods hoist and passenger lifts
* Johannesburg Hospital: floating wards
* Johannesburg Hospital: hospital street, pharmacy and casualty
* Johannesburg Hospital: boiler
* Kalafong Hospital: intensive care unity (ICU)
* Leratong Hospital: new pharmacy
* Lilian Ngoyi: phase one
* Loveday (PSO): upgrading of existing building
* Mamelodi Hospital: new hospital
* Mandela Sisulu Clinic: new clinic
* Pretoria Academic Hospital: contract D3
* Pretoria Academic Hospital: oncology
* Sebokeng Hospital: hospital upgrade
* SG Lourens Nursing College: admin building
* South Rand Hospital: lifts upgrade
* Sterkfontein Hospital: new wards contract two
* Stretford CHC: phase two
* Tambo Memorial Hospital: building Water Reticulation
* Tembisa Hospital: restructuring, OPD, casualty and pharmacy
* Tshwane Hospital: regional pharmacy
* Weskoppies Hospital: two new wards
* Zola CHC: phase two.
Honourable Speaker, we have prioritised construction of a district hospital
in the vicinity of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in order to ensure that
upon completion, all patients with minor ailments will no longer present
themselves at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Construction of a district
hospital in Daveyton is also aimed at ensuring that people who live in that
catchment area have access to hospital care. We have therefore allocated R1
092,263 for this programme which amounts to 25,28% increase from the allocation
of the past financial year.
Conclusion
We are on course to improve the health status of the people of Gauteng. We
are also on course to improve the quality of services that are delivered at our
facilities. In partnership with the people of Gauteng, who are our primary
clients, our staff and other stakeholders we will endeavour to make this age of
hope a reality in their lifetime.
I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to:
* the honourable Premier, for his sterling leadership
* the national Minister for her leadership in the National Health Council (NHC)
and wish her speedy recovery
* the acting Minister for ably holding fort
* my colleagues in the Executive Council
* the Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee Dr RAM Salojee, for his
leadership and oversight role
* members of the Provincial Health Council
* all categories of staff in the Gauteng Department of Health
* my beloved wife Joeline, two daughters and son.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2007
