NELSPRUIT – The province can expect a radical shift in funding for the department of health in the budget for the 2014/15 financial year. This is according to premier Mr David Mubuza, who addressed the press after his annual State of the Province Address on Friday.
Last year, the department forfeited R106 million of its hospital revitalisation grant due to underspending. Mabuza said they have jacked up the pace of spending this year.
“We lost some funds due to not spending fast enough. That is behind us.” The premier said they had discussed the problems of health in the province with the department’s mininster during a recent lekgotla.
“We decided that this department was inadequately funded. Education gets almost half of our total budget. We think the norm must be revised. In the next one, we will see a radical shift in the funding of health to take care of the issues.”
Mabuza said personnel was one of the issues. In his address, he noted, “We are concerned that the quality of service delivery and patient care in our facilities is still not up to standard and future efforts in this regard will require significant technical and financial support to improve our human resources and the infrastructure in our facilities, especially hospitals”.
Over the past five years, R2,6 billion have been invested in health infrastructure. Eight hospitals with appalling infrastructure are being demolished and reconstructed and 12 are undergoing extensive repairs, according to the premier.
He said the people of Mpumalanga faced serious health issues including HIV/Aids, interpersonal violence, injuries, infectious diseases and an increased incidence of lifestyle diseases.
However, Mabuza said life expectancy had improved while maternal mortality had decreased.
The tuberculosis (TB) cure rate improved to 76,5 per cent, immunisation coverage increased to 83 per cent, female condom distribution to 1,2 million and 32 hospitals provided antiretroviral treatment.
To further fight the disease, the Mpumalanga Provincial Aids Council was established to coordinate a multisectorial response to HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections and TB. He claimed CEOs, 21 hospital boards and 205 clinic committees had been appointed and trained to improve management.
The premier noted that crucial areas that needed to be addressed were improved leadership, infrastructure and equipment, maintenance teams, appointing qualified professionals and strengthening primary health care.
