This is according to the Head of the Department, David Motau, who appeared before the Free State Legislature’s Public Accounts and Finance Committee earlier on Friday. Motau has highlighted how the funding allocated to the health department is not adequate to deal with all its challenges. His department has been allocated an amount of R12,135 billion for the 2021/22 financial year. 

Allocating the province’s 2021/22 budget, MEC for Finance Gadija Brown announced that the budget for the Health Department will have to cater for Covid-19 response measures, Medical Depot, as well as training and development of medical staff, amongst other necessities. 

Accounting before the Committee, Health MEC Montseng Tsiu and her accounting officer, Motau, said the department is plagued with a number of challenges, including the lack of adequate funds for psychiatric care, the lack of resources at various healthcare facilities, as well as a lack of funds for EMS, amongst others.  

Whilst both Tsui and Motau admitted that the EMS in the province falls short of what it is supposed to be, and acknowledged several other challenges regarding inadequate resources at health facilities, they have vowed to ensure that there is an improvement of service delivery.

They announced that the medical depot will be allocated an amount of R40 million to address its challenges, whilst R5.3 million will go towards psychiatric care.

Motau highlighted how primary healthcare is preventative and promotive in nature and how strengthening local clinics and appointing clinical personnel at various facilities is paramount to addressing many health challenges in the province.

“We further need to vaccinate about 1.9 million people in the Free State against Covid-19 to achieve herd immunity. It is going to be a challenge, but we are prepared as the department,” said Motau.

OFM News