Johannesburg – Gauteng has beefed up its budget allocation for district health services by over R1 billion, in line with the provincial health department’s objective to re-engineer services in clinics and smaller hospitals.
The provincial Health and Social Development Department has allocated an amount of R7 billion to district health service – an increase of 18 percent from the previous financial year’s allocation.
Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC, Ntombi Mekgwe, announced that 112 community service doctors have been placed in district health services, including districts hospitals, which will support 50 of the poorest wards.
“A further 40 local doctors who have benefited from the department’s bursary fund have also been distributed to the district health services and district hospitals, where they will fulfil their contractual obligations,” said Mekgwe.
Presenting her department’s R25.2 billion budget for 2011/2012 on Friday, Mekgwe challenged district managers to brace themselves to conduct their business differently, as it is at this level that the link between health promotion and management of diseases is pivotal.
“Allocation of resources will now be determined by disease patterns and trends in each district,” Mekgwe said.
She announced that 30 of the 35 community health centres in Gauteng will operate 24 hours a day in order to improve access to primary health care services.
“It is also at this level of care that we are going to co-ordinate delivery of community based services. We have those who offer home based care services, TB Directly Observed Treatment support and HIV and AIDS Lay Councillors,” Mekgwe said.
Mekgwe announced that by the end of March 2012, the department would have established health posts in 15 areas, with 1 100 community health workers currently being recruited for deployment to the health posts.
“Our goal is to change community perceptions about quality of care at our facilities, as they will be attended to faster by dedicated teams who live among them,” she said.
In an attempt to discourage people from entering the health system incorrectly, more doctors will be deployed to work at clinics and the department will continue strengthen the use of general practitioners, who work on a session basis at the clinics.
Currently, 248 out of 318 clinics are visited by a medical doctor at least once or twice a week. – Gabi Khumalo, BuaNews
