FREE DAILY EMAIL

Da te: 21/02/2007
Source: Department of Health
Title: Statement: Health response on budget


Comment on the extra budget for health programmes
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

SPONSORED BY

Advanced