Gauteng MEC for Health and Social development, Qedani Mahlangu, has tabled a health budget of R16.58 billion for 2009/10 financial year. The budget which is an increase of approximately 11 percent from the previous allocation will see the department reprioritising the allocation of resources from non-core to activities towards patient care.
The budget which is in line with the department’s ten point plan will also see the strengthening of management at district level to ensure that appropriate support is provided to clinics, community health centres and district hospitals.
MEC Mahlangu also announced that an additional 15 Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment sites will be accredited by end of this financial year. This will mean an increase in the number of these sites from 69 to 83. The number of people receiving anti-retroviral treatment at these sites will also be increased from 100 000 to 250 000, including 20 thousand children by the end of March this year.
In effort to improve the delivery of health services to the public the, department has implemented the following immediate interventions:
* Extending hours of operations at number of clinic from 56 to 72
* Increasing the number of community health centres rendering services on a 24 hour basis from 17 to 20
* Reducing waiting times at clinics through issuing three month stock of medication to stable chronic patients.
There are ten hospitals at which services will be turned around by the end of the current Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). This will include among others improving staffing levels, procurement of basic and essential equipment, improving working conditions for staff reduction of waiting times and drug supply.
These hospitals are; Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, Dr George Mukhari, Steve Biko Academic, Tembisa, Natalspruit, Helen Joseph, Leratong, Kalafong and Tambo Memorial hospitals.
In line with the department’s decision to divert resources from non-core to essential services there would be cut back on consultancy work, termination of contracts for consultants who perform duties that could be performed by employees and accelerated filling of vacant funded posts.
Mahlangu also announced that the services of 3P consulting have been discontinued and that contracts of senior officials who were remunerated as consultants have also been terminated.
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
3 August 2009
