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MEC of Finance Jacob Mamabolo today allocated a total budget of R784 million to the Gauteng Department of Health to address, urgently, the backlog in surgical and radiation oncology services.

The MEC was delivering the 2023/24 Gauteng Provincial Budget to the Legislature.

The backlog is because of shortages in both personnel and equipment that emanate, and the knock-on effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that stretched the capacity of the Gauteng health system.

“In efforts to clear the backlog, Gauteng Provincial Treasury and Gauteng Department of Health have worked with civil society organisations - SECTION27 and Cancer Alliance – in an approach, which involves the procurement of the necessary machinery and equipment needed for radiation therapy to assist the patients on the waiting list, particularly given that the nature of the disease requires urgency,” he said.

MEC Mamabolo said this collaborative approach with civil society in addressing the crisis is expected to address the waiting lists, and I anticipate that this time next year, we will be outlining the resolution to this challenge.

“I must point out that this is an example of the forging of collaborative public and private partnerships that will yield important lessons in in confronting the many health challenges that Gauteng faces,” he said.

Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government