During a National Assembly mini-plenary to vote on the Health department’s budget for the year, the Minister Dr Joe Phaahla was pleased to announce that the World Health Organisation has declared that Covid-19 is no longer an emergency of international concern.
This is due to the steep decline in infection and death. However, there is still some risk attached to it, particularly for the elderly and those who have comorbidities. “[T]hey should get boosters to fortify their immune systems every six month to curb any side effects thereof,” he advised.
He cautioned that the Health budget vote is affected by a poor economic climate that has resulted in the decline of the budget from R64.4 billion to R60 billion. This has resulted in the reduction of key health programmes in an already underfunded health budget to the tune R11 billion.
The provinces will benefit from the total to a value of R56.2 billion, of which R7.8 billion will be set aside to train medical doctors, particularly community service doctors, as this will assist communities in rural areas who were previously underserved by the department.
Health infrastructure requires intervention and to this end R7.2 billion will be reserved for its development, particularly the development of ideal clinics. “To date, 2 000 clinics have attained the ideal clinic status; our intention is to have 2 400 more clinics of such status in the country.” In addition, the department has introduced an electronic health recording system to improve emergency services and assist clinics and hospitals to comply with medical regulations more efficiently.”
The tertiary health service grant will be allocated R14 billion to bring specialised medical services, such as oncology, to rural areas.
The Minister also reported progress in treating life-threatening diseases such as HIV/Aids and TB through the introduction of new drugs and treatment. He admitted that the department has lost ground on the treatment of TB, but this is now being addressed.
In his closing remarks, he urged Members of Parliament to support the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill because it will help ensure that resources are allocated more fairly and provide adequate health services for all.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Kenneth Jacobs, welcomed the budget vote. However, he was concerned about the progressive decline of the Health department’s budget in the face of increasing health challenges that have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, he welcomed the R8.7 billion that will be allocated for specialist medical training, but issued a warning about the non-clinical posts that remain vacant. He also welcomed the plans for NHI to make quality health care more universal.
Also participating in the debate, MP Ms Michele Clarke for the Democratic Alliance claimed that the planned NHI would not be a panacea for South Africa’s health problems. In her party’s opinion, the government has failed to provide universal health care and hospitals and clinics are falling apart. What is more Ms Clarke said, infant mortality rates are increasing, as are rates of cancer and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. However, the government has made no budget adjustment and realignment to deal with them, she pointed out.
Ms Naledi Chirwa of the Economic Freedom Fighters, claimed that the NHI is nothing more than “outsourcing of public healthcare services to the highest bidder.” She suggested that the solution to our health problems is not to “tenderise our health care”. In addition, investments should be made in training black medical scientists and integrating community health workers as full employee of the health care sector.
Reflecting on the department’s budget allocation, Ms Duduzile Hlengwa of the Inkatha Freedom Party contested that it does not drive change nor address access to medicine. “The current budget has not been adjusted to meet the rising demand of health care in the country and the increase of the consumer price index of 4.5% in 2022/2023 financial years.” In her view, “Much more needed to be done to fulfil the health needs of our rising population.”
Speaking of an integrated approach to dealing with South Africa’s health challenges during the debate, Mr Vuyolwethu Zungula of the African Transformation Movement suggested that there must an integrated approach between the Home Affairs and the Health departments in dealing with undocumented migrants to mitigate the burden he claims they exact on the health system.
Mr Ahmed Shaik Emam of the National Freedom Party claimed that the government was being inattentive to South Africa’s real health challenges “We don’t focus on unhealthy food products sold on our streets that are a source of many diseases. That is why our youth die of heart attack at 20 or 30 years of age because our health system is not preventative.”
Abel Mputing
9 May 2023
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