The MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, said a total of 1 927 health workers were appointed on contract since March 2020. 

Tabling her 2022/23 budget speech in the Legislature, she said the appointments were in response to the Covid-19 impact to enable the department to match the demand. MEC Tsiu says the appointment of staff members include 2 medical specialists, 29 medical officers, 1 161 nurses in different categories, 51 allied health professionals, 59 pharmacists and pharmacy assistants, 3 biomedical engineers and 622 other support staff members.

“We are proud to indicate that the reappointment of all these health workers for one more year is already underway. This is a significant contribution of Health in the fight against Covid-19, but also unemployment in our province.

These appointments, especially psychologists and social workers, were made to provide much-needed psychosocial support to both the public and healthcare workers. About 7 939 officials tested positive for Covid-19, while 151 sadly passed away due to its related complications. May their souls rest in peace,” she added.

MEC Tsiu further added that there was a significant decline in the utilisation of healthcare services, particularly during the stricter levels of the lockdown and the different waves. The primary healthcare headcounts dropped from 5.4 million in 2019/20, to 4.8 million in 2020/21 and further decreased to 4.6 million in 2021/22.

During the tabling of her departmental budget, MEC Tsiu said that the Free State's primary healthcare facilities do not meet the threshold standards of “ideal clinics”.

Presenting her budget speech on Tuesday, MEC Tsiu told Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) that before Covid-19, the state of compliance was at 69% but since the start of the pandemic it dropped to 43%, in 2020 and in the current financial year, the department has seen signs of recovery, with an achievement of 54% in 2021/22.

Also read: Free State healthcare facilities 'not meeting compliance standard'

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