Local News
Financial woes of Free State Health far from over─── CATHY DLODLO 16:48 Mon, 15 Aug 2016
Bloemfontein - The financial woes of the Free State Health department seem far from over, although it has been under administration for more than a year.
This follows after Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, said the department is experiencing an estimated shortfall of R72 million. He said – in an answer to a written question in parliament – that this shortfall is specifically regarding the province’s budget for primary health care that mainly includes clinics.
Motsoaledi said the money is supposed to fund the filling of critical posts in all five districts in the province. A further R66.7 million is also needed to appoint staff at seven new clinics in the province that are expected to open their doors this financial year.
Motsoaledi said the department did not budget for the staffing needs of these clinics. The available budget for primary health care services in the Free State is R 2.46 billion.
Motsoaledi said his department has engaged with national and Provincial Treasury to address the financial constraints experienced by Free State Health.
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