The Gauteng Department of Health and Social development collected R76 million from the Folateng Project in the last financial year. This represents a seven percent increase from the year 2006/07.
The Folateng Project is revenue generating initiative launched by the department a few years ago. The Folateng units which are situated in four of the Gauteng public hospitals serve as a bridge between public and private health sectors. The money generated from these units make the acquisition of major items of medical equipment more affordable to participating hospitals and allows affording members of the community an opportunity to receive high level medical care at a rate lower than that of private hospitals.
Full time medical officers have been appointed at all Folateng units and this move has resulted in an increase in utilisation of these services.
The first unit was commissioned at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (then called Johannesburg Hospital) in May 2002. It started with 32 beds, now has 100 beds and extensions are underway for a further 100 beds (including 20 Intensive Care Unit beds).
The Helen Joseph Hospital unit opened in June 2003 with 42 beds. The third unit was opened at Pretoria West Hospital in June 2003 with 52 beds. Five of these beds are now used for maternity services. The most recent unit to be commissioned is at Sebokeng Hospital. It began to operate in April 2005 with 36 beds, eight of which were set aside for maternity services.
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
19 October 2009
