Statement by Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool on Health Budget protests

At our last cabinet meeting, cabinet discussed the situation of Health in the Western Cape and noted the protests, petitions, and requests for relief in this regard. I was personally approached by Professor Njabulo Ndebele to intervene in the state of the Health Budget.

Cabinet evaluated the progress made in the transformation of the Health System in the Western Cape and noted the systematic expansion of the primary health care base. This has resulted in significantly greater access to health by the poor, better quality of life and the push back of diseases and ailments that before were pervasive.

Cabinet noted that this expansion in primary health had to be accompanied by rationalisation at, particularly tertiary level, which historically had received the greatest share of the Health Budget. More importantly, restructuring the health system also meant restructuring our relationship with the universities where we significantly subsidise the salaries of staff, even though some may deliver no direct services, and over whom we have no decision-making authority.

Given these complex issues Cabinet has decided to convene a meeting with the universities at rector level and the medical schools to discuss these matters. We are clear that we are not negotiating whether to transform healthcare or not. We remain committed to the objectives of Healthcare 2010. We want to be open to a discussion on whether there are unintended consequences that may need some relief. It can never be the intention to have people die, if those people can be assisted.

Cabinet, however, on the basis of the facts, is clear that at a hospital such as Groote Schuur, such cases are absolutely minimal in the context of 70 000 operations a year.

But we are also distressed that there are some professionals who would elevate such extremes to a level of publicity so as to suggest that that is the norm. We can understand that the battle for budgets is fierce, but in this case, all cannot be fair in love and war.

As Premier, I am also glad that the Deputy Minister of Health, Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge, has undertaken to find R30 million from the national government. This is a welcome realisation that it is, in fact, the national tertiary health grant that has diminished while the provincial contribution from our own equitable share has made up both the shortfall and helped to supplement this grant for hospitals like Groote Schuur, Tygerberg and Red Cross.

Enquiries:
Shado Twala
Tel: 021 483 5642
Fax: 021 483 5636
Cell: 083 640 6771
E-mail: stwala@pgwc.gov.za

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
10 May 2007