Health MEC announces R24.6b budget for 2024/25
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba announced a 3.6% increase in the budget from the 2023/24 main appropriation.
POLOKWANE – An amount of R2.2b has been earmarked for the provision of tertiary services at the Mankweng and Pietersburg hospitals in the 2024/25 financial year.
This was announced by Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba as she broke down her department’s overall budget of R24.6b during her budget vote speech delivered at the Polokwane Council Chambers on Tuesday.
The budget increased by 3.6% from the 2023/24 main appropriation.
Ramathuba made mention of the funds while reflecting on achievements at both hospitals over the last year including what she said were fully completed and operational bulk water storage tank projects at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital.
She also said fencing was complete at the Mankweng clinic among 26 similar facilities, as part of efforts to move towards a 24-hour service.
Last year, both hospitals each received a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IMR) unit.
Complex nuclear medicine machinery like the gamma camera and Brachytherapy unit were installed to expand the oncology unit at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital at a combined value of R17m in an effort to treat cancers.
Meanwhile, R666.2m was set aside for the training of healthcare professionals to reduce unemployment, she said.
This also speaks to a request raised by unemployed doctors affiliated with the South African Medical Association Trade Union who last week requested that the department considers increasing the number of employed doctors and improve working conditions.
