Once approved by the Legislature the Health Department will receive an additional R139, 5 million to supplement its R4, 74 billion budget for the current financial year. This will be made up of R3, 4 million from rollovers from the previous financial year and R136 million from other adjustments.
"The largest slice of the additional funds approximately R104 million will be used to help us deal with the huge increase in demand for our services as a result of rapid population growth and sharp increases in the incidence of communicable and chronic lifestyle diseases. Included in this amount is R29 million donated by the Global Fund to help strengthen and expand our already comprehensive HIV and Aids programmes.
"A further R20 million will be spent on various items including increasing vaccine levels, improving Emergency Medical Services, enhancing revenue collection, replacing beds and trolleys and shortening waiting lists for patients waiting for ear, nose and throat surgery, cataract surgery, bone marrow transplants and buying high cost consumables like heart valve prostheses," said Health Minister, Pierre Uys.
"The budget relief now in the offing will remove a considerable amount of pressure from health services in the Western Cape. Where some weeks back we were faced with drastic options such as the closure of numerous wards and ICU beds, along with further delays in elective surgery, the funds being reallocated will help ensure that no further service cuts would be necessary this year.
"It also confirms Cabinet and this government's commitment to the spirit of iKapa Elihlumayo and our goal to deliver on a Healthy Home for All. I would also like to commend the management and staff of the Health Department for staying on course during a difficult time and continuing to provide quality health care to the more than 70% of residents of our Province that are completely dependent on the government for health care.
"However, we are not out of the woods yet. I want to stress that ongoing structural changes are essential if we are to achieve our goal of providing equal access to quality health care. This includes directing patients to the most appropriate level of care within the health system as provided for in our Healthcare 2010 strategy."
Uys added there had already been a number of major improvements to the health infrastructure and that the department was close to finalising a new service delivery plan after lengthy consultation with stakeholders. This would define how many hospital beds were required at each level of the service, underpinned by a comprehensive primary health care service. The staffing plan would then follow.
"The bottom line is that we have to use the available funds more effectively because the demand is likely to outstrip budget for some time to come. By early next year we will start to move swiftly towards the restructuring of the service and this should help us meet the ever growing demand for quality health care," he said.
Heidi BartisDeputy Director: Communications
Department of Health: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 3689
